During the week ending May 1, 2025, net sales of upland cotton in the United States for the 2024–2025 season amounted to 65,800 running bales (RB), each weighing approximately 226.8 kg (500 pounds). This represents a 39% decline compared to the previous week and a 50% drop from the four-week average, according to the USDA’s weekly export sales report.
The primary contributors to the increase in sales were Vietnam (30,500 RB, including 900 RB switched from Malaysia, 500 RB from South Korea, 400 RB from Hong Kong, 200 RB from Japan, and a decrease of 100 RB), Turkiye (16,200 RB, including a decrease of 100 RB), India (9,300 RB), Indonesia (4,700 RB, including 500 RB switched from Vietnam and 200 RB from South Korea), and Bangladesh (3,000 RB, with reductions of 100 RB). These gains were partially offset by declines in sales to Pakistan (4,100 RB), China (1,200 RB), Malaysia (900 RB), and Japan (300 RB).
For the 2025–2026 marketing year, net sales totaled 37,400 RB, primarily for Mexico (30,700 RB), Indonesia (11,500 RB), Pakistan (2,200 RB), and Venezuela (1,800 RB). However, reductions in sales to China (8,800 RB) offset part of the overall total.
Export shipments of upland cotton reached 394,900 RB, marking an 8% increase from the previous week and a 16% rise from the prior four-week average. Key shipment destinations included Vietnam (117,300 RB), Pakistan (88,800 RB), Turkiye (78,500 RB), Bangladesh (34,400 RB), and Indonesia (11,500 RB).
In addition, net sales of Pima cotton hit a marketing-year high, totaling 27,100 RB for the 2024–2025 season. This figure reflects significant gains over both the previous week and the four-week average. The main buyers of Pima cotton were Vietnam (16,900 RB, including 100 RB switched from Hong Kong), India (6,200 RB), Pakistan (1,100 RB), Costa Rica (900 RB), and Peru (900 RB), partially offset by reductions for Hong Kong (100 RB) and Turkiye (100 RB).
Export shipments of Pima cotton also saw a strong performance, totaling 14,400 RB, a noticeable increase from the previous week and 75% higher than the four-week average. Vietnam (6,100 RB), India (5,400 RB), Turkiye (1,000 RB), Pakistan (900 RB), and Slovenia (200 RB) were the main destinations for these shipments.
Overall, while shipment activity showed strength, the reductions in net sales to key markets highlight the challenges faced by U.S. cotton exporters in maintaining robust demand amidst fluctuating market conditions.
