Rabobank expects cotton futures on the Intercontinental Exchange to rise marginally in the short term because of strong demand from overseas markets. Exports are rising despite a decline in stocks in the US. The country exported around 13.7 million bales of cotton in 2016-17. USDA projects cotton exports in 2017-18 at 14 million bales. Weather remains relatively non-threatening for India and the US–key nations in driving higher exportable stocks in 2017-18. Cotton futures are expected to trade at around 77 cents per pound in the short term. July cotton contract on ICE is trading at 78.39 cents a pound, up 1.5% from the previous settlement. cotton prices are likely to decline to 68 cents a pound in the long term due to an increase in acreage as farmers earned higher returns from the crop last year.