Cotton prices increased on Wednesday after a decline of the dollar made exports cheaper.

The U.S. Dollar Index of six currencies including the euro, pound and yen fell by 0.2 percent.

Cotton futures for March delivery increased by 0.95 cents, or 1.4 percent, to 69.05 cents a pound on ICE Futures, formerly the New York Board of Trade, after an earlier gain of 69.9 cents, the highest since Jan. 23.

Cotton increased by 21 percent in 2007 but the acreage is expected to decline in 2008.

U.S. forecasted production of 19 million bales of cotton in 2008, each weighing 480 pounds, and 16 million bales valued at about $5.3 billion will be exported.

Cotton is currently valued at about $6.3 billion.