Shurley on Cotton: Prices Steady, But Tempting Downside Support

By Dr. Don Shurley

New crop December15 futures hover just above 64 cents today (May 26). This is a continuation of the slide that began last week. Since peaking at just under 67 cents back on May 15, new crop prices have lost 2.74 cents/lb. For the fourth time, prices hit that ceiling at 66 to 67 cents and just couldn’t muster enough to break through.

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With today’s action, we also now sit at that important “trend of increasing support” line. So, this week could become a test. The 62 to 67-cent range will likely hold. But will the uptrend of increasing lows of support also hold and, if so, will the market begin another “recovery?” With the ceiling at 67 cents seemingly pretty firm and with the “uptrend of lows” if it holds, the price range is tightening.

There are several uncertainties as we move forward, and growers are asking the question, “Are we going to reach 70 cents?” No one knows the answer to that question, but there are several factors that will determine which way we go. With this possible tightening of the trading range, a “breakout” seems ever more likely – either the uptrend in lows fails to hold or the ceiling is finally broken.

Acreage. U.S. growers said back in March that they intended to plant 9.55 million acres of cotton. USDA will release the first estimate of actual acreage at the end of June. There has been, and continues to be, reports of acreage being switched to other crops such as grain sorghum, corn, and soybeans. In major peanut states, there has also always been uncertainty about the peanuts versus cotton (and other crops) battle for acreage, due to the attractiveness of the new farm bill PLC coverage on peanuts. At least one report suggests that actual cotton acreage could be ¼ million acres less than USDA’s 9.55 million number in March.

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Weather. Weather has also become a factor. After successive years of drought conditions, Texas currently has had too much rain. For the month of May, the High Plains area has been mostly 200 to 400 percent of normal rainfall. The Coastal Bend area has been mostly 200 to 400 percent of normal. In the High Plains, excessive rainfall and cool temperatures have delayed planting.

On the other hand, May has been a dry month in the Southeast, where cotton-growing areas have been mostly 25 to 75 percent below normal. Rainfall in the Mid-South has been mixed, with some areas below normal and some above normal.

For the week ending May 24, cotton was 47 percent planted, compared to 61 percent normal at that date and 35 percent for the previous week. While some states made substantial progress during that week, planting overall is now 14 percentage points behind normal, compared to 11 points behind normal as of May 17. Seven of 15 states are now ahead of average or only slightly behind average in planting. Several states made substantial progress during the week, especially in the Southeast. Tennessee also made progress—picking up 20 percentage points.

Shurley Planting Graph May27 Web

Texas remains a concern. Texas made only a little progress last week and, as of May 24, is only 29 percent planted compared to 50 percent normal. Missouri made progress last week, but is still 12 points behind normal. North Carolina picked up 26 points in progress last week, but is still 14 percentage points behind normal.

Delays in planting could cause intended cotton acreage to be planted to another crop. Likewise, some areas will soon approach their crop insurance final planting date deadline. If planted after the final date, coverage is reduced. If prevented from being planted, a second crop may be planted.

As we move forward, the impacts of the weather and relative prices of other crops on cotton acreage will be known. Actual acreage could be less than USDA’s March number of 9.55 million acres. The real question is whether or not the market already anticipates this and/or whether the market will react to the number if it’s smaller. Given the fact that we have record World stocks, this somewhat insulates the market from new crop events. I still believe, however, that U.S. production and fiber quality are important enough, and the market will move accordingly.

U.S. Exports. USDA’s May production and supply/demand estimates pegged 2014 crop year exports at 10.7 million bales. Last week’s export report shows that exports already total 8.31 million running bales (RB), or the equivalent of 8.55 million 480-lb bales. Outstanding sales total 2.39 million RB, or another 2.46 million 480-lb bales. This totals 11.01 million bales, or 103 percent of USDA’s estimate. Should this total be realized – all other things being equal – U.S. ending stocks carried into the 2015 crop marketing year on August 1 will be 300,000 bales less than currently estimated.

This may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but it does tighten U.S. supplies at a time when foreign mill demand for quality U.S. cotton has been high. Combine this lower carry-in to the 2015 crop year with perhaps even lower U.S. acreage than currently expected, and things could still get interesting before all is said and done.

U.S. exports for the 2015 crop year are currently projected by USDA to be 10.7 million bales – the same as the current 2014 crop estimate. Given all the gloom and doom over China’s policies and lack of need for U.S. cotton given its massive stocks, I find it somewhat encouraging to think that we could export 10.7 million bales again in 2015/16.

China’s Production and Imports. China’s acreage and production has been a source of debate and uncertainty. A new policy to provide price subsidies for some areas/growers casts an unknown over the impacts. USDA’s May report projects 2015 Chinese cotton production at 27 million bales – down three million bales from this season. Imports are forecast to be six million bales – down 1.7 million bales from last this season. Mill use is forecast at 36 million bales – up one million bales from this season. Ending stocks are projected to decline by three million bales.

Shurley China Graph May27 Web

Among other things, market direction for the 2015 crop will depend on what actually happens. Stocks are key. What is the quality of that cotton, and will Chinese mills use it? What policy and prices will result in being able to move that cotton into the pipeline rather than purchasing imports?

Will cotton reach 70 cents? There are factors in play that could take us there. But the situation is volatile and yet unknown. Cotton production in 2015 will require patience, a clear understanding of the risks and careful evaluation of marketing tools and choices.

 

Shurley is Professor Emeritus of Cotton Economics, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia

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