1. Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - In 2025, the cotton futures market was in a bottom - building phase, with the annual trend mainly influenced by Sino - US trade relations, a significant decline in imports, and a notable increase in Xinjiang's cotton production. The price reached a low due to Sino - US trade tensions, rose due to supply concerns from import decline, and then fell back due to higher - than - expected new cotton production [1]. - In 2026, whether cotton prices continue to build the bottom or rebound depends on supply - side drivers. There is a risk of reduced planting globally, and the price is expected to move upward. The operating range of the cotton 2601 contract is expected to be 13200 - 14000, and that of the 2605 contract is estimated to be 13400 - 14500. It is recommended to focus on buying opportunities at low prices, and downstream industrial customers can consider buying hedging opportunities at the lower end of the range [2][127]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Long - term Cotton Trends and 2025 Market Review 3.1.1 Long - term Historical Review - Since the listing of Zhengzhou cotton futures in 2004, its price has fluctuated greatly, with a historical low of around 9800 and a high of 34870. The price is affected by economic cycles, weather, and policies. The long - term trend can be divided into ten stages, including supply - demand balance, bull and bear markets, and periods affected by events such as the European debt crisis, Sino - US trade frictions, and weather disturbances [11]. 3.1.2 2025 Futures Market Summary - In 2025, domestic cotton futures showed a typical range - bound pattern. From January to April, the price declined due to unmet demand expectations and Sino - US trade frictions. From May to August, it rose due to supply concerns and eased trade relations. From September to November, it fell back as new cotton production pressure emerged [20][21]. 3.1.3 2025 Spot Market Summary - In 2025, the domestic cotton spot market showed a pattern of "range - bound with a slight shift in the center of gravity." The annual average price of 3128B cotton was 14791 yuan/ton, slightly up from the beginning of the year but down year - on - year. The price declined from January to April due to trade frictions, rose from May to July due to improved expectations and supply concerns, and fell again from August to November due to new cotton production expectations and weak demand [22][23]. 3.1.4 Futures Trading Volume and Open Interest - In 2025, the trading volume and turnover of cotton futures decreased. From January to October, the cumulative trading volume was 61340818 lots, a 24.41% year - on - year decline, and the cumulative turnover was 41646 billion yuan, a 31.3% year - on - year decline. The open interest was relatively stable, with a slight increase in October. As of the end of October, the open interest was 918452 lots, higher than the same period last year [25]. 3.2 Global Cotton Market Fundamental Analysis 3.2.1 Global Cotton Supply Market Analysis - **2025/26 Annual Global Cotton Production Growth**: In 2025/26, global cotton production is expected to reach 120 million bales (about 26.13 million tons), a 0.67% year - on - year increase. The growth mainly comes from Brazil and China, while the production of other major cotton - producing countries such as the US and India is flat or slightly declining. The final output of Australia is the main uncertainty [32][33]. - **2026/27 Annual Global Cotton Production Forecast**: In 2026/27, global cotton planting enthusiasm is generally expected to be average, and the area expansion motivation is limited. The core variable of future production will focus on yield performance. Brazil's production is expected to be stable but slightly decreased [38][39]. 3.2.2 Global Cotton Demand Market Analysis - **2026/27 Global Economic Growth Forecast**: The global economic growth is expected to slow down in 2026. Although the growth in 2025 was slightly higher than expected, factors such as high tariffs, public debt, and geopolitical tensions pose threats to the global economy in 2026 [46]. - **Textile and Apparel Markets in Developed Countries**: In 2025, the US textile and apparel market showed some resilience, with moderate growth in consumption and imports. The EU market had strong import growth, and the Japanese market had a moderate increase in both volume and value. However, in 2026, high tariffs will pose challenges to the US consumer market [47][52][55]. - **Asian Textile Markets**: In 2025, India's clothing exports increased by diversifying markets, Bangladesh's exports were stable but faced some challenges, and Vietnam's textile industry had a complex situation of "upstream production increase, downstream production decrease, and export value increase" [57][60][62]. 3.2.3 Performance of US Cotton Prices during the Fed's Interest - Rate Cut Cycle - Since 2000, during the Fed's four major interest - rate cut cycles, the impact of interest - rate cuts on US cotton prices was limited. Cotton prices are mainly determined by supply - demand fundamentals, and macro - monetary policies only have an indirect impact [67][69]. 3.2.4 US Cotton Futures Prices Continue to Build the Bottom - In 2026, the pressure on the global cotton supply side will weaken. The planting enthusiasm for global cotton is decreasing, and the US cotton price has fallen below the production cost line. The demand side has high uncertainty due to economic growth slowdown and trade policies. The trend of US cotton futures prices in 2026 will focus on "bottom - building," and weather conditions will be the key factor [72][74]. 3.3 Domestic Cotton Market Fundamental Analysis 3.3.1 Domestic Cotton Supply Situation Analysis - **This Year's Production Expansion and Next Year's Policy Impact**: This year, domestic cotton production has significantly increased, mainly due to the expansion of planting area. Next year, the planting area is expected to remain stable. The key factors affecting production will be policies and weather [75][78]. - **2025/26 Import Volume Forecast**: In 2025, China's cotton imports decreased significantly. In 2026, the import volume is expected to remain low, with the estimated range between 1.1 million and 1.4 million tons [81][83]. 3.3.2 Domestic Cotton Demand Situation Analysis - **2025 Textile Industry Performance**: In 2025, the Chinese textile industry showed a trend of "stable production but reduced profits." The production was stable, but the profit margin shrank due to weak market demand and high costs [87][92]. - **2025 Domestic Sales Market**: In 2025, the domestic textile and apparel sales market was "stable in retail but under pressure in profits." The retail sales increased moderately, but the production enterprises faced operational pressure. In 2026, the market is expected to run smoothly under policy support [98][100]. - **2025 Textile and Apparel Exports**: In 2025, textile and apparel exports were under pressure due to factors such as global economic slowdown and US tariff policies. In 2026, the export situation will still be challenging, although the tariff advantage of Southeast Asian countries to the US is narrowing [103][105]. - **Substitution Competition of Polyester Staple Fiber and Viscose Staple Fiber**: The substitution competition between polyester staple fiber, viscose staple fiber, and cotton is still strong. In 2026, the substitution pressure is expected to continue, and the price difference between cotton and chemical fibers will be the key factor [110][111]. 3.3.3 Domestic Cotton Supply - Demand Balance Sheet - In the 2025/26 period, the domestic cotton market is expected to maintain a general supply - demand balance, with a slight increase in total supply and a slight decrease in consumption, resulting in a small inventory accumulation [112]. 3.4 Arbitrage Opportunity Analysis - It is recommended to focus on short - selling opportunities for the 5 - 9 spread. Based on the expected decline in imports, the support for the far - month price is gradually strengthening [116]. 3.5 Seasonal Analysis - According to the seasonal chart of the cotton futures index, the probability of price increases is relatively high in April and December, and the probability of price declines is relatively high in February and May [121]. 3.6 Cotton Market Viewpoint Summary and Operation Suggestions - In 2026, the supply side pressure is not significant, and the focus is on processing rhythm, planting area and yield expectations, and import market changes. The demand side faces challenges, mainly from the export market and substitution pressure. The price trend depends on supply - side drivers, and it is recommended to focus on buying opportunities at low prices [124][127]. 3.7 Cotton Option Market Analysis and Operation Strategies - For upstream enterprises, it is recommended to sell out - of - the - money call options. For downstream enterprises, it is recommended to sell out - of - the - money put options. For speculators, it is recommended to sell a wide - straddle combination strategy [134]. 3.8 Related Stock Price Changes - The report lists the price changes of some cotton - related stocks from January 2, 2025, to December 12, 2025, with different stocks showing varying degrees of increase or decrease [136].