US Cotton Sales Decline: Upland Down 11%, Pima Plummets 68%

U.S. cotton sales saw a notable decline in the week ending April 3, 2025, according to the USDA’s latest weekly export sales report. Net sales of Upland cotton for the 2024–25 season totaled 115,100 running bales (RB), each weighing 500 pounds (226.8 kg), marking an 11% decrease from the previous week and a 22% drop from the four-week average.

The largest buyer was Vietnam, which accounted for 64,800 RB—this figure includes 2,200 RB switched from China, 1,300 RB from South Korea, and a reduction of 700 RB. Other key buyers included Turkiye (19,100 RB, with a decrease of 300 RB), Thailand (7,500 RB), Honduras (6,100 RB, including a decrease of 100 RB), and Malaysia (4,400 RB). Offsetting these gains were reductions in purchases from China (1,800 RB) and Pakistan (800 RB).

For the 2025–26 season, net sales totaled 18,900 RB. These were led by Honduras and Vietnam, each with 6,600 RB, followed by El Salvador (4,300 RB) and Thailand (1,400 RB).

Export shipments of Upland cotton reached 377,200 RB for the week—down 4% from the prior week and 2% from the four-week average. The top destinations were Vietnam (128,400 RB), Pakistan (69,100 RB), Turkiye (64,300 RB), Bangladesh (15,200 RB), and Mexico (14,800 RB).

Pima cotton sales experienced a sharp drop, with net sales totaling just 2,700 RB for the 2024–25 season. This represents a steep 68% decline from the previous week and an 82% drop compared to the four-week average. Sales were primarily to India (2,200 RB), China (1,000 RB switched from Hong Kong), Guatemala (300 RB), and Peru (200 RB), partially offset by a reduction for Hong Kong (1,000 RB).

Pima export shipments also declined significantly to 8,000 RB—down 44% from the prior week and 36% from the four-week average. Key destinations included India (2,000 RB), Egypt (1,800 RB), Vietnam (1,100 RB), China (1,000 RB), and Costa Rica (900 RB).