ICE cotton futures closed Thursday’s session down 22 to 110 points. The US Dollar Index rose by 0.275 points to 98.150. Despite earlier discussions of easing tensions this week, crude oil prices gained $2.52 after reports of explosions in Iran surfaced later in the day.

USDA’s Thursday morning Export Sales report showed cotton sales for the 2025/26 season at 123,349 running bales for the week ending April 30. This was 13.83% above the same week last year. Pakistan purchased 38,800 running bales, while India bought 27,200 running bales. New crop sales totaled 48,400 running bales, with most of it, 35,200 running bales, sold to Guatemala. Shipments were reported at 327,531 running bales, down from the previous week’s five-week high. Vietnam was the largest destination with 135,000 running bales shipped, while 29,600 running bales were sent to Bangladesh.

The Seam platform reported sales of 302 bales on May 6 at an average price of 74.00 cents per pound. The Cotlook A Index rose 175 points on May 6 to 94.55 cents. ICE certified cotton stocks increased by 180 bales on Wednesday to 182,132 bales. The Adjusted World Price rose another 393 points on Thursday afternoon to 69.59 cents per pound.