Cotton prices have weakened further on Saturday at leading mandis of North India due to poor buying activity of spinning mills while decline in arrivals is also witnessed. In overseas markets, Cotton prices settled lower on Friday. ICE most active ICE benchmark December contract lost 300 points to close at 72.11 cents per pound. The March 2023 contract eased 274 points to end at 72.07 cents per pound. July futures fell by 142 points to 72.36 cents. Weather conditions have improved considerably in the cotton producing regions of North India. Cotton prices have weakened in local markets following the decline in international cotton prices, traders said. However, farmers are not willing to sell their cotton produce at lower rates. Apparently, the market yards are witnessing decline in arrival. Post Diwali, there was expectation of pick up cotton arrival in the market yard. Meanwhile, softer tone in overseas cotton prices have continued to hurt domestic exports that are yielding negative returns at this point. Due to poor realisation from the raw cotton exports, demand from Multi National Companies (MNC) stays soft. In fact, they have adopted wait and watch strategy. Cotton output in the region is likely to miss the preliminary forecast. Hence, cotton prices are likely to experience increase in volatility. Further, the prices will be determined by daily arrivals as well. Various markets in the region have witnessed arrival of 12,000 bales of new raw cotton (kapas) today, as compared to 14,500 bales received on Friday. Punhab-Haryana mandi line cotton quoted in the range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 8,600 per quintal (100kg), while upper Rajasthan line cotton ruled between Rs 8,200 to Rs 8,800 per quintal. Cotton seed prices in Punjab and Haryana were Rs 3,600 to Rs 3,900 per quintal while in upper Rajasthan it was offered in the range of Rs 3,700 to Rs 4,000 per quintal. Cotton for spot delivery quoted in the range of Rs 6,350 to Rs 6,400 per maund or Rs 59,250 to Rs 59,750 per candy in the mandis of Punjab. In the markets of Haryana, spot cotton quoted in the range of Rs 6,300 to Rs 6,350 per maund or Rs 58,750 to Rs 59,250 per candy. Upper Rajasthan markets witnessed the commodity being offered between Rs 6,425 to Rs 6,450 per maund or Rs 61,200 to Rs 61,450 per candy.