Commodity Origins

Cotton price history, 1960 to 2026

Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East averaged $2.11/kg in August 2026, +22% over twelve months and +19% over ten years. The nominal all-time high was $5.06/kg in March 2011; in 2024 dollars the real peak was $13.34/kg in January 1974. Monthly averages, World Bank Pink Sheet.

Cotton monthly prices, $/kg, Jan 1960 to Aug 2026Line chart of cotton monthly prices in $/kg from Jan 1960 to Aug 2026: Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East from 0.65 to 2.11, peaking at 5.06.01234519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025$/kg
Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East
Derived price statistics per series
SeriesLatest1 month12 months5 years10 years20 yearsAll-time high (nominal)All-time high (real, 2024 US$)
Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East
$/kg, since 1960
2.11
August 2026
+8%+22%-5%+19%+60%5.06
March 2011
13.34
January 1974

Percentage changes compare the latest monthly average with the monthly average 1, 12, 60, 120 and 240 months earlier. Real prices deflate by the US consumer price index (BLS via FRED) to 2024 dollars.

Source: World Bank Pink Sheet, 2026-09-02, fetched 6 September 2026 (CC BY 4.0).

Prices are monthly benchmark averages that may lag the market; informational only, not investment, legal or trade advice. For what these benchmarks mean and how they are set, see how cotton is priced.

Monthly cotton prices by decade

Choose a decade. Values are monthly averages in the unit shown; blank cells mean no quote was published.

Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East ($/kg)

Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East monthly prices, 2020s, $/kg
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAverage
20201.741.691.491.41.451.491.511.541.561.651.711.791.59
20211.922.052.02222.082.152.232.292.592.792.652.23
20222.913.053.113.423.613.42.892.742.592.22.232.222.86
20232.212.192.12.12.072.042.052.112.162.111.9922.09
20242.032.22.21.991.911.831.791.761.821.841.81.761.91
20251.721.721.711.731.721.731.741.731.721.681.661.631.71
20261.641.631.71.92.031.91.962.111.86

Method

Nominal prices are the source's monthly averages in US dollars, stored in the source's unit and never mixed on one chart. Real prices divide each month by the US consumer price index for all urban consumers (BLS series CPIAUCSL, via FRED) and multiply by the 2024 average, so they read as "2024 dollars". Changes are ratios of monthly averages. The all-time high is the highest monthly average, not an intraday peak.

Downloads

Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Cotton price history (1960–2026)", https://commodityorigins.com/prices/cotton/, data 2026-09-02. Data updated 6 September 2026.