Shurley on Cotton: September Numbers Unlikely to Move Needle
September 14, 2015 By Dr. Don Shurley
Cotton growers continue to wait on anything that would push prices to the desired 70 cent level or better. To date, little marketing or price protection has taken place, as producers seem willing to wait it out. This is not a bad strategy given the opportunity cost of storing the cotton under the Loan or taking an available LDP, and also assuming and expecting good price premiums for good quality fiber.
After the shocking numbers in the August report, USDA’s September report seemed by most observers to be an opportunity for USDA to “correct” itself. Thus, there has been – and continues to be – a lot of uncertainty around this market. As we move closer to harvest time, it looks like the September numbers (released September 11) are not likely to do much in the way of moving prices out of the 62 to 67 cent range we’ve been in for the past 11 months.
To me, the September numbers are likely neutral to slightly bearish. So, the waiting game continues. There is potential that prices could improve, but last week’s report is not going to get us there. The road to higher prices, although possible, is also full of potential potholes.
U.S. cotton acres planted now stands at 8.56 million acres – down 340,000 acres from the August estimate. More importantly, acres expected to be harvested is now 8.17 million acres – up 280,000 acres from August, despite the revision down in acres planted. This places the acreage abandonment at only 4.5 percent – historically, a very low number.
Recall that the end-of-June acreage estimate was subject to resurvey and revision for Texas. The June estimate for Texas was 5.2 million acres. This month’s revised acreage planted for Texas is 4.8 million.
The expected U.S. average yield is now 789 lbs/acre – down slightly from the August estimate. It is worth noting, however, that the Texas yield was increased slightly, Georgia was increased, and four Mid-South states (AR, LA, MS and MO) are expected to yield over 2 bales per acre. The U.S. crop is now pegged at 13.43 million bales, compared to the August estimate of 13.08 million bales.
The U.S. crop was planted later than normal and has developed behind normal. This raises questions and concerns as harvest approaches. Defoliation is a careful balancing act between trying to preserve yield and quality on the bottom part of the plant, while waiting and wanting to gain additional yield from the top portion of the plant. Once defoliated, fiber quality can deteriorate quickly if not harvested timely.
As of September 6, the crop was 31% open bolls, compared to 38% average. The Texas crop was only 21% open, compared to 32% average. We’ll need the weather to cooperate to grow and mature the remainder of the crop, then continued good weather to get it harvested.
Some observers feel the U.S. crop could get bigger with the October reports. The potential is there, but that potential is also at risk due to the lateness of the crop. The current 90-day forecasts call for cooler and wetter than normal conditions for Texas and above normal rainfall for the Mid-South.
Also in last week’s USDA report, projected U.S. exports for the 2015 crop year were raised 200,000 bales to 10.2 million bales. This increase is likely just in response to the larger crop estimate and more available supplies. It may be just coincidence, but USDA also lowered the expected range of prices. Prices for the ‘15 crop are now expected to average 62 cents/lb, compared to 65 cents in August. The higher export number may reflect that prices are expected to be a little lower than earlier projected.
The World and foreign numbers are a mixed bag. Production was lowered slightly. Brazil and Pakistan were both lowered. China and India remain unchanged from the August estimates.
World mill use for the ’15 crop year was lowered by roughly 1.2 million bales from the August estimate. Contrary to what we might expect, none of this reduction comes from China. China mill use, which has been of concern lately, remains at a projected 34 million bales – the same as last season. I believe some analysts thought the China number would be lowered to reflect recent concerns. This was not the case, so this could be a good sign or it could be that we’ll see any reduction come in future reports.
Due to the decline in World mill use, 2015 crop year ending stocks are now projected to be another 1 million bales higher.
World usage has trended upward since the recent low in 2011. Use is still 10.5 million bales below the peak in 2006, however.
For the ’15 crop year, uncertainty about the China economy and the impact on their textile industry will be closely watched. Not to beat a dead horse, but China’s textile industry (demand for cotton) coupled with their stocks policies and subsequent need imports (U.S. exports) will be a key in whether prices improve or weaken from where they are now.
Prices (Dec futures) still hover around the 63 cent area. Prices can be expected to strengthen if the U.S. crop is threatened. Likewise, prices could still weaken if the crop gets even bigger. But the “floor” or support at the 61.50 to 62 area seems pretty firm unless the China situation also raises its ugly head again and we get multiple blows, all turning the market negative at the same time.
Shurley is Professor Emeritus of Cotton Economics, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia
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