China Said to Buy 1 Million Tons of U.S. Cotton for Reserves

China, the world’s biggest cotton user, is seeking to buy 1 million metric tons of new-crop output from the U.S. to boost government stockpiles, according to two executives familiar with the matter. Prices climbed.

The China National Cotton Reserves Corp., which stockpiles the commodity on behalf of the government, has bought 160,000 tons since last week, said the executives, who declined to be identified as they aren’t authorized to speak to the media. Phone calls to the state company today weren’t answered.