HTS Commodities Senior Market Strategist Walter Kunisch was recently quoted by Bloomberg in two articles discussing the rising concerns about this year’s U.S. cotton crop.

On Aug. 5, Bloomberg reported: “The lack of moisture and rising water demand is a perennial concern for the West Texas cotton producers,” Kunisch said. “But the soaring temps and lack of any tangible moisture this summer are creating real economic concerns for the local cotton supply chain.”

On Aug. 13, Bloomberg reported: However, concerns linger about the number of bales of cotton that will actually reach the market. Futures rose last week on concerns about the quality of the U.S. crop, following hot and dry weather in top producing region West Texas. Poor weather in the region “cannot be understated,” Kunisch said, adding that it is a “serious supply side variable.”

“Both a falling yield and the escalation probability that Texas cotton producers will abandon the crop and take an insurance payment can lower U.S. production,” Kunisch said.

You can read the full articles via the Bloomberg terminal.

Kunisch and the HTS Commodities team have built a strong track record of successfully forecasting global agriculture and energy commodities prices. Kunisch has been a top-ranked global analyst by Bloomberg for the past 12 months, consistently posting more accurate predictions than many of the nation’s largest investment banks.

For the past six months, HilltopSecurities has achieved the following rankings for its commodities forecasts in the listed sectors according to Bloomberg league tables:

• ICE Gasoil: No. 1
• Winnipeg Canola: No. 1
• CME Soybean Meal: No. 1
• CME Soybeans: No. 2
• Malaysia Palm Oil: No. 2