What This Chart Shows
This chart displays the historical price of cotton, one of the most important textile and agricultural commodities in the world. Cotton is used extensively in clothing, fabrics, industrial materials, and global manufacturing. Because of its central role in the textile supply chain, cotton prices reflect long‑term trends in global demand, crop yields, weather conditions, and international trade.
The chart allows users to observe periods of rising textile demand, supply shortages, commodity inflation, and global production cycles. Cotton is widely followed by analysts, manufacturers, and commodity traders due to its influence on apparel costs and agricultural markets.
Why Cotton Matters
Cotton is a major global crop and a key input for the textile industry. Its price is shaped by:
- Global clothing and textile demand
- Weather patterns and crop yields
- Fertilizer and energy costs
- International trade flows
- Supply chain disruptions
- Competition from synthetic fibers
Because cotton is used in everything from clothing to industrial materials, its price plays a significant role in global manufacturing costs and consumer goods inflation.
Key Insights
- Cotton is a core agricultural and industrial commodity with global economic importance.
- Prices are highly sensitive to weather, planting conditions, and harvest outcomes.
- Textile demand — especially from major manufacturing hubs — heavily influences price trends.
- Energy and fertilizer costs impact production and can drive price volatility.
- Cotton markets often move independently of metals, energy, and grains, offering diversification insights.
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (via FRED), Series ID: PCOTTINDUSDM