Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Cotton Rises to Record for Second Straight Day on Global Fiber Shortfall

Cotton futures jumped to a record for the second straight day on speculation that global supplies will fail to keep pace with rising demand in China, the world’s largest user.

China’s custom agency said today that imports in November surged 31 percent from October. Shandong, the country’s second- biggest producing province, said on Dec. 17 that output dropped 22 percent this year from 2010. In India, the world’s No. 2 grower, production will be less than forecast, an industry group said yesterday.

“The crops are disappointing,” said Robin Rosenberg, a futures strategist at PFGBest, a brokerage in Chicago. “Prices will go even higher.”

Cotton for March delivery advanced by the exchange limit of 5 cents, or 3.2 percent, to close at an all-time high of $1.5912 a pound at 2:30 p.m. on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. The price has more than doubled this year, heading for the biggest annual gain since 1973. (more)

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