The Positioning Report | US
Softs — COT Positioning
CFTC Disaggregated Commitments of Traders · Combined Futures & Options
Week of May 15, 2026 Sugar · Coffee · Cotton · Cocoa · Frozen OJ
Data: CFTC weekly release
Market Positioning — Softs
Percentile rankings relative to full available history (2010–present) · Managed Money = hedge funds & CTAs · Commercial = producers, merchants & swap dealers
Sugar No. 11
CFTC Code 080732 · COT data through 2026-05-12
14.78 ¢/lb
MM Net Position
-100,456
Managed money long minus short
12th pct
MM Week-over-Week
+13,691
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
1,183,981 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
88th pct
Commercial Net
+52,990
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
86th pct
Price WoW Change
+0.09 ¢/lb
+0.6%  ·  latest 14.78 ¢/lb
Managed money is Heavily Short (12th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money added 13,691 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net long position of 52,990 contracts. Open interest is at an elevated level historically (88th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years. Extreme readings — especially multi-year highs or lows — historically coincide with price turning points.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-142.947.518.2
Jan 13-139.4-0.515.9
Jan 20-148.8-51.714.8
Jan 27-139.2-49.528.9
Feb 03-187.4-53.143.8
Feb 10-211.8-45.255.1
Feb 17-241.8-10.960.0
Feb 24-241.151.356.9
Mar 03-248.334.970.6
Mar 10-211.118.345.5
Mar 17-204.766.252.2
Mar 24-76.891.355.5
Mar 31-49.696.168.5
Apr 07-65.394.889.2
Apr 14-142.350.478.4
Apr 21-189.645.934.9
Apr 28-187.334.511.7
May 05-114.111.30.0
May 12-100.520.4-9.8

Commercial hedger net position (producers, merchants, and swap dealers combined). Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06142.0-39.6-61.9
Jan 13154.017.3-54.4
Jan 20165.865.7-61.0
Jan 27148.254.0-77.0
Feb 03210.954.5-85.3
Feb 10231.142.6-89.1
Feb 17248.616.1-99.3
Feb 24244.4-50.1-76.6
Mar 03235.4-16.5-93.3
Mar 10189.1-6.8-55.9
Mar 17178.9-51.3-70.1
Mar 2436.6-70.1-76.5
Mar 3113.4-67.0-103.1
Apr 0735.9-47.3-120.1
Apr 14109.7-21.7-91.6
Apr 21144.6-20.2-28.7
Apr 28123.8-18.1-14.5
May 0552.4-2.2-3.8
May 1253.0-19.9-6.3

Total open interest across all participant categories. Rising OI with a directional move confirms the trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation rather than new conviction.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 061,101.81,096.41,116.9
Jan 131,130.91,147.11,106.5
Jan 201,144.91,151.61,080.5
Jan 271,179.51,166.41,101.4
Feb 031,243.61,176.41,133.1
Feb 101,288.01,182.41,158.2
Feb 171,247.41,097.51,154.6
Feb 241,203.51,089.21,007.2
Mar 031,204.61,018.3991.5
Mar 101,203.31,005.81,018.6
Mar 171,173.31,036.2997.6
Mar 241,155.01,030.81,006.2
Mar 311,133.91,027.01,010.8
Apr 071,120.61,002.21,016.9
Apr 141,146.2962.61,006.6
Apr 211,159.0942.9958.5
Apr 281,153.4936.3975.9
May 051,191.8928.1983.1
May 121,184.0925.9977.9

Nearby futures price (SB=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Coffee C
CFTC Code 083731 · COT data through 2026-05-12
258.75 ¢/lb
MM Net Position
+25,028
Managed money long minus short
61th pct
MM Week-over-Week
-6,007
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
220,013 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
38th pct
Commercial Net
-19,684
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
50th pct
Price WoW Change
-30.95 ¢/lb
-10.7%  ·  latest 258.75 ¢/lb
Managed money is Moderately Long (61th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money reduced 6,007 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net short position of 19,684 contracts. Open interest is near historical average levels (38th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years. Extreme readings — especially multi-year highs or lows — historically coincide with price turning points.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0633.757.941.1
Jan 1334.560.542.1
Jan 2032.562.942.7
Jan 2735.265.646.1
Feb 0323.965.748.6
Feb 1016.860.248.2
Feb 1714.759.650.5
Feb 2412.957.945.8
Mar 0312.454.942.7
Mar 1014.852.443.4
Mar 1718.651.447.1
Mar 2423.953.742.4
Mar 3125.549.347.9
Apr 0722.737.457.3
Apr 1426.333.166.9
Apr 2123.834.971.8
Apr 2829.441.668.2
May 0531.041.768.3
May 1225.040.759.0

Commercial hedger net position (producers, merchants, and swap dealers combined). Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-37.1-66.6-47.4
Jan 13-38.6-73.2-49.2
Jan 20-34.5-75.7-52.1
Jan 27-36.9-77.9-55.1
Feb 03-21.8-75.4-57.4
Feb 10-15.1-68.3-56.0
Feb 17-12.1-66.2-59.2
Feb 24-11.9-64.1-54.1
Mar 03-11.4-62.9-50.5
Mar 10-15.2-60.6-53.1
Mar 17-17.9-58.9-56.6
Mar 24-24.3-61.3-49.8
Mar 31-25.3-55.9-54.9
Apr 07-21.2-43.1-67.1
Apr 14-22.8-41.3-76.2
Apr 21-18.7-42.2-79.6
Apr 28-24.7-50.2-77.1
May 05-27.7-49.9-75.1
May 12-19.7-47.2-67.4

Total open interest across all participant categories. Rising OI with a directional move confirms the trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation rather than new conviction.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06203.5251.3273.8
Jan 13201.5239.2269.5
Jan 20202.4241.8264.3
Jan 27207.0259.9268.7
Feb 03226.5267.9273.3
Feb 10226.1273.5280.7
Feb 17192.4217.8252.2
Feb 24202.2215.8236.0
Mar 03208.6218.9239.5
Mar 10206.2222.4247.5
Mar 17210.7219.2244.4
Mar 24217.8224.5248.7
Mar 31217.6224.9267.0
Apr 07219.4225.1282.6
Apr 14199.4181.5295.6
Apr 21196.8177.9287.0
Apr 28205.9196.9290.6
May 05213.1193.7289.5
May 12220.0189.2288.1

Nearby futures price (KC=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Options-only open interest by trader category (futures-and-options combined minus futures-only). Teal = managed money options net (spec directional bets via options). Gold = swap dealer options net (dealer intermediation; negative = dealer short gamma). Red = producer/commercial options net (negative = producers bought puts → dealer sold puts). White dotted = Structural Hedging Pressure percentile rank vs. full history. Elevated pressure + reversing MM positioning = structural conditions for amplified price moves.

Cotton No. 2
CFTC Code 033661 · COT data through 2026-05-12
80.33 ¢/lb
MM Net Position
+59,570
Managed money long minus short
76th pct
MM Week-over-Week
+8,386
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
515,041 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
100th pct
Commercial Net
-122,150
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
4th pct
Price WoW Change
-4.40 ¢/lb
-5.2%  ·  latest 80.33 ¢/lb
Managed money is Moderately Long (76th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money added 8,386 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net short position of 122,150 contracts. Open interest is at an elevated level historically (100th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years. Extreme readings — especially multi-year highs or lows — historically coincide with price turning points.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-47.8-39.3-4.4
Jan 13-50.4-43.1-6.9
Jan 20-52.0-48.4-2.0
Jan 27-65.0-53.624.5
Feb 03-71.7-62.428.6
Feb 10-75.6-60.546.3
Feb 17-79.5-57.471.6
Feb 24-65.4-68.586.1
Mar 03-72.9-80.094.0
Mar 10-66.8-76.496.4
Mar 17-40.2-69.693.2
Mar 24-33.4-73.889.5
Mar 31-12.2-66.684.5
Apr 07-2.0-55.780.6
Apr 1416.8-42.462.0
Apr 2134.5-37.436.1
Apr 2838.4-26.29.5
May 0551.2-21.0-1.9
May 1259.6-29.1-13.7

Commercial hedger net position (producers, merchants, and swap dealers combined). Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0622.729.5-8.5
Jan 1323.432.7-9.0
Jan 2022.034.9-14.3
Jan 2737.736.0-43.8
Feb 0342.145.8-50.6
Feb 1049.740.0-68.9
Feb 1754.334.4-93.5
Feb 2426.144.0-106.2
Mar 0325.562.3-114.8
Mar 1018.358.6-113.1
Mar 17-24.350.0-110.6
Mar 24-27.654.3-104.9
Mar 31-55.542.9-100.2
Apr 07-67.139.4-100.9
Apr 14-88.033.7-83.7
Apr 21-102.330.6-55.9
Apr 28-101.817.6-31.2
May 05-119.216.3-18.1
May 12-122.223.5-6.8

Total open interest across all participant categories. Rising OI with a directional move confirms the trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation rather than new conviction.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06367.0278.8228.0
Jan 13383.7296.3234.5
Jan 20394.7313.2240.7
Jan 27421.7320.5266.4
Feb 03444.6336.2291.8
Feb 10412.5320.8316.3
Feb 17391.4314.8291.1
Feb 24380.2306.7306.0
Mar 03385.6330.1324.1
Mar 10394.4320.1323.1
Mar 17427.1321.5328.3
Mar 24416.4333.6330.0
Mar 31455.7345.9332.2
Apr 07467.1326.2334.7
Apr 14427.2262.3297.4
Apr 21465.7260.0239.0
Apr 28459.6254.6243.9
May 05496.7267.1246.6
May 12515.0271.3257.4

Nearby futures price (CT=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Options-only open interest by trader category (futures-and-options combined minus futures-only). Teal = managed money options net (spec directional bets via options). Gold = swap dealer options net (dealer intermediation; negative = dealer short gamma). Red = producer/commercial options net (negative = producers bought puts → dealer sold puts). White dotted = Structural Hedging Pressure percentile rank vs. full history. Elevated pressure + reversing MM positioning = structural conditions for amplified price moves.

Cocoa
CFTC Code 073732 · COT data through 2026-05-12
4,109.00 $/mt
MM Net Position
-13,969
Managed money long minus short
14th pct
MM Week-over-Week
+2,867
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
251,422 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
50th pct
Commercial Net
+17,075
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
94th pct
Price WoW Change
-4.00 $/mt
-0.1%  ·  latest 4,109.00 $/mt
Managed money is Heavily Short (14th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money added 2,867 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net long position of 17,075 contracts. Open interest is near historical average levels (50th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years. Extreme readings — especially multi-year highs or lows — historically coincide with price turning points.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-1.937.562.9
Jan 13-8.937.259.1
Jan 20-13.638.063.7
Jan 27-12.736.270.7
Feb 03-13.533.264.1
Feb 10-15.127.358.8
Feb 17-13.827.546.5
Feb 24-10.016.942.8
Mar 03-7.914.832.3
Mar 10-15.213.932.0
Mar 17-11.212.433.7
Mar 24-12.712.726.8
Mar 31-14.515.821.9
Apr 07-16.415.819.7
Apr 14-18.111.619.7
Apr 21-16.413.016.1
Apr 28-19.914.513.9
May 05-16.814.113.7
May 12-14.018.514.4

Commercial hedger net position (producers, merchants, and swap dealers combined). Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-1.7-40.0-60.9
Jan 1313.5-40.2-55.8
Jan 2020.2-41.4-65.4
Jan 2717.5-38.9-72.1
Feb 0315.7-35.7-68.1
Feb 1016.8-28.1-62.3
Feb 1715.4-29.4-48.0
Feb 2410.8-18.6-43.3
Mar 0315.8-16.3-39.6
Mar 1020.3-15.2-37.8
Mar 1719.8-13.2-40.9
Mar 2421.6-14.9-33.9
Mar 3121.3-15.8-32.6
Apr 0724.9-18.7-30.4
Apr 1425.4-14.5-28.9
Apr 2122.1-16.1-28.3
Apr 2826.4-18.8-25.9
May 0523.1-18.7-20.7
May 1217.1-24.1-20.7

Total open interest across all participant categories. Rising OI with a directional move confirms the trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation rather than new conviction.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06162.8178.6455.3
Jan 13176.9174.6455.1
Jan 20199.1175.2476.4
Jan 27214.4173.6492.5
Feb 03229.5176.0494.2
Feb 10239.6150.8455.7
Feb 17215.3146.7424.7
Feb 24241.9141.3407.3
Mar 03255.4134.0396.2
Mar 10254.3136.4369.8
Mar 17246.2137.1374.4
Mar 24251.5136.0382.9
Mar 31259.3142.3383.9
Apr 07263.8122.3335.2
Apr 14234.4116.3296.8
Apr 21234.0115.4286.0
Apr 28237.7117.6288.0
May 05253.2117.7268.3
May 12251.4126.3261.7

Nearby futures price (CC=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Options-only open interest by trader category (futures-and-options combined minus futures-only). Teal = managed money options net (spec directional bets via options). Gold = swap dealer options net (dealer intermediation; negative = dealer short gamma). Red = producer/commercial options net (negative = producers bought puts → dealer sold puts). White dotted = Structural Hedging Pressure percentile rank vs. full history. Elevated pressure + reversing MM positioning = structural conditions for amplified price moves.

Frozen OJ
CFTC Code 040701 · COT data through 2026-05-12
170.05 ¢/lb
MM Net Position
+1,139
Managed money long minus short
43th pct
MM Week-over-Week
+536
Change in managed money net
Open Interest
8,820 cts
Total open interest (all participants)
1th pct
Commercial Net
-2,747
Prod/merchant + swap dealer net
58th pct
Price WoW Change
-3.60 ¢/lb
-2.1%  ·  latest 170.05 ¢/lb
Managed money is Neutral (43th percentile) relative to the full history of this market. Managed money added 536 net contracts week-over-week. Commercial hedgers hold a net short position of 2,747 contracts. Open interest is at a depressed level historically (1th percentile).

Managed money (hedge funds & CTAs) net long position by week of year, overlapping across all available years. Extreme readings — especially multi-year highs or lows — historically coincide with price turning points.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 06-2.85.90.9
Jan 13-1.75.80.5
Jan 20-1.55.50.1
Jan 27-0.85.5-0.0
Feb 03-0.05.30.1
Feb 10-0.44.11.1
Feb 17-0.53.21.2
Feb 24-0.22.61.5
Mar 030.12.21.8
Mar 100.32.01.5
Mar 170.91.51.4
Mar 240.61.41.2
Mar 310.71.31.3
Apr 071.21.11.5
Apr 141.71.11.4
Apr 211.21.01.4
Apr 280.60.81.6
May 050.60.71.5
May 121.10.31.5

Commercial hedger net position (producers, merchants, and swap dealers combined). Commercials are structurally short (forward sellers); a move toward net long is historically bullish.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 060.8-8.4-0.7
Jan 13-0.4-7.8-0.4
Jan 20-0.3-7.7-0.2
Jan 27-1.5-7.6-0.1
Feb 03-2.2-6.6-1.1
Feb 10-1.7-5.5-2.6
Feb 17-1.1-4.6-1.9
Feb 24-1.5-4.1-2.5
Mar 03-1.5-4.1-2.3
Mar 10-1.9-3.6-2.3
Mar 17-2.6-3.4-1.9
Mar 24-2.0-3.3-1.8
Mar 31-2.0-3.4-2.3
Apr 07-2.6-3.1-2.5
Apr 14-3.5-3.1-2.2
Apr 21-2.6-2.9-2.7
Apr 28-1.8-2.4-2.8
May 05-1.9-2.3-3.2
May 12-2.7-2.0-3.4

Total open interest across all participant categories. Rising OI with a directional move confirms the trend; falling OI suggests position liquidation rather than new conviction.

Date2026 ('000 cts)2025 ('000 cts)2024 ('000 cts)
Jan 0611.014.311.8
Jan 1310.614.412.9
Jan 2010.414.313.1
Jan 2710.214.312.5
Feb 0310.114.711.9
Feb 1010.816.712.1
Feb 1710.017.112.7
Feb 248.816.212.4
Mar 039.016.212.3
Mar 109.016.411.6
Mar 179.016.611.4
Mar 249.516.011.4
Mar 319.116.111.4
Apr 079.016.611.4
Apr 148.915.511.4
Apr 218.112.511.9
Apr 288.612.510.1
May 058.312.510.2
May 128.812.810.9

Nearby futures price (OJ=F). Price shown for context; COT positioning is the primary signal.

Options-only open interest by trader category (futures-and-options combined minus futures-only). Teal = managed money options net (spec directional bets via options). Gold = swap dealer options net (dealer intermediation; negative = dealer short gamma). Red = producer/commercial options net (negative = producers bought puts → dealer sold puts). White dotted = Structural Hedging Pressure percentile rank vs. full history. Elevated pressure + reversing MM positioning = structural conditions for amplified price moves.

The Positioning Report — Softs — May 15, 2026 Data through: COT: May 16, 2026 Source: SoftSignal Research | https://reports.getsoftsignal.com/2026/positioning_softs_9c693277.html