Market Review - Cotton futures for the main contract CF2509 increased by 0.04% to 12,900 CNY/ton, while ICE cotton fell by 0.96% to 66.73 cents/pound. Domestic spot prices decreased by 0.1% to 14,124 CNY/ton [1] Fundamental Summary - The USDA report indicates that from April 25 to May 1, the net export contracts for U.S. cotton for the 2024/25 season were 14,900 tons, a 39% increase from the previous week but a 50% decrease from the four-week average [2] - As of May 2, the CFTC data shows that the ON-call unpriced sell orders for U.S. cotton were 50,451 contracts, an increase of 1,165 contracts week-on-week, while unpriced buy orders rose by 1,346 contracts to 87,656 [2] - Brazil's export data revealed that in April, cotton exports reached 239,145.21 tons, with an average daily export of 11,957.26 tons, a 9% increase compared to the daily average of 10,973.14 tons in April of the previous year [2] Institutional Perspectives - According to Wenkang Futures, the domestic cotton spinning industry's consumption peak has ended, leading to a decline in downstream operating rates, with a significant year-on-year decrease. Despite low import levels, cotton inventory continues to decrease slightly, indicating a weak supply-demand balance [3] - Hongyuan Futures notes that optimism regarding the first trade negotiations between China and the U.S. has waned, shifting focus to the bleak outlook for U.S. cotton demand. The results of trade negotiations between the EU, Japan, and the U.S. have been unsatisfactory, and significant progress in the upcoming China-U.S. talks is unlikely [3] - If U.S. tariffs remain high, such as at 50%, the significance of negotiations diminishes. Therefore, the recent rebound in Zheng cotton prices may be driven by psychological expectations, leading to potential volatility in cotton prices [3]