Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the fluctuations in cotton futures prices on the ICE, with a slight increase observed on December 24, 2023, where the price opened at 64.01 cents per pound and reached a current price of 64.06 cents per pound, marking a 0.06% increase [1] - On December 23, the opening price for cotton futures was reported at 63.61 cents per pound, with a closing price of 63.90 cents per pound, reflecting a 0.36% increase [2] - The Brazilian CEPEA/ESALQ cotton price index was reported at 62.74 cents per pound on December 23, showing an increase of 0.97% from the previous day, but a decrease of 3.52% compared to the same period last month [2] Group 2 - The USDA's weekly export sales report indicated that for the week ending December 11, the net sales of U.S. upland cotton for the 2025/26 marketing year were 304,689 bales, significantly higher than the previous week's 153,266 bales [2] - The export volume for the same week was reported at 134,371 bales, also an increase from the prior week's 101,577 bales [2] - The USDA forecasts that Pakistan's cotton production for the 2025/26 marketing year will remain at 1.089 million tons, unchanged year-on-year, but significantly lower than previous bumper crop years [2]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article indicates a slight decline in cotton futures prices on the ICE, with the current price at 67.35 cents per pound, down 0.18% from the opening price of 67.44 cents per pound [1] - On August 21, the opening price for cotton futures was 67.51 cents per pound, with a high of 67.85 cents and a low of 67.22 cents, closing at 67.41 cents, reflecting a decrease of 0.19% [2][3] - As of August 21, total inventory of imported cotton at major ports reached 325,700 tons, an increase of 6.68% week-on-week, recovering from a 22-month low [3] Group 2 - In Shandong province, the inventory of imported cotton at Qingdao and Jinan ports and surrounding warehouses is approximately 261,000 tons, up 7.28% week-on-week, but down 35.56% year-on-year [3] - In Jiangsu province, the inventory at Zhangjiagang port and surrounding warehouses is about 34,700 tons, with other ports holding around 30,000 tons [3] - According to the CFTC data as of August 15, the number of unpriced sell orders for U.S. cotton was 50,127 contracts, an increase of 876 contracts, while unpriced buy orders decreased by 1,993 contracts to 106,924 contracts [3]