#Raw Materials

2020-03-26

‘Cotton: Review of the world situation’

For more than a year and a half, the trade war between China and the USA has injected uncertainty into the global cotton trade, so the announcement of a Phase I agreement between the countries was very welcome news — and you can read all about it for free.

Analysis of the potential impact of the Phase I trade agreement between China and the USA

An updated review of various governments’ support of cotton production

The steps needed to reinvigorate the Latin American cotton sector

An overview of the CSITC and instrument testing of cotton

Each issue of The Review, which is a paid subscription, offers access to one article at no charge. For the March 2020 edition, that article is ‘Possible Impacts of the US China Phase One Agreement’, authored by ICAC Statistician Lihan Wei.

‘Geopolitical tensions in the past 20 months across the globe appear to indicate a move away from globalisation and the renegotiation of trade agreements across major economies’, she explains. ‘If uncertainty and trade tensions are the new normal, prices may remain low’.

The second article, ‘Current Developments in Cotton Support to Production’, was authored by ICAC Director of Trade Analysis Andrei Guitchounts and looks at the actions some governments are taking to support domestic cotton production — particularly the USA and India.

The third article was authored by Adrianna Gregolin, a Regional Coordinator with the FAO, and is entitled ‘The recovery of Latin American cotton depends on restoring inter-institutional coordination in the sector’. It outlines the history of cotton production in the region, why it declined 30 years ago and what steps are required to re-energise Latin American cotton production.

The fourth article in the issue has three authors: Andrew MacDonald, Chair of the CSITC; Axel Drieling, Senior Manager of Cotton, Faserinstitut (FIBRE), Bremen; and Yana Pomerants, Executive Assistant with the ICAC. They explain the many benefits that the industry enjoys when cotton is instrument tested, as well as discussing exactly how the efforts of the Task Force on the Commercial Standardisation of Instrument Testing of Cotton benefit the cotton supply chain — and why all labs should be participating in CSITC Round Trials.

PLEASE NOTE: ICAC has revised its distribution process for subscribers. Sending attachments via email frequently gets that email sent to a spam folder, so links are now provided to allow subscribers to log into their accounts and download documents directly.

https://www.icac.org/Publications/PastIssues?Id=1144

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is proud to announce that it has been included as a member of the European Commission’s Technical Advisory Board (TAB) on the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. The Commission developed the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) to assess and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organizations.

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.

ICAC announces postponement of the 83rd Plenary Meeting in Tanzania

Due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the recent developments in Tanzania, the ICAC has announced that its upcoming 83rd Plenary Meeting has been postponed. Scheduled for Nov. 17-20 in Mwanza, the delay was recommended by Tanzania, and the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.

Cotton production continues to exceed consumption, some growers shift away from cotton

World cotton lint production in the 2025/26 season is currently estimated at 26 million tonnes, continuing to exceed world consumption, which is estimated at 25.2 million tonnes, according to the February 2026 edition of Cotton This Month. Global production is estimated to be 1% higher than the previous season, while consumption is estimated to be 0.4% higher, resulting in a continued supply surplus in the world cotton market.

Better Cotton Initiative opens enrollment in the US with promising opportunities for producers

Producer enrollment for the US Program of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is open until May 15 for the 2026-2027 season. With over 2,600 members spanning the cotton supply chain and more than 11,000 users of its Better Cotton Platform (BCP) as of 2025, BCI’s standard is implemented in 15 countries and covers one fifth of global cotton production.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen: Let´s Talk about Cotton!

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, to be held on 25-27 March 2026 in Bremen’s parliament building on market square, once again sends a powerful signal for professional excellence and international dialogue. The focus is on the latest market trends and technical innovations throughout the entire value chain – from agriculture and quality assurance to processing and the circular economy. With its high-calibre speakers, the conference remains an indispensable forum for anyone involved in shaping the cotton industry scientifically, technically, or economically.

Kick-off for the Textile Production of the Future: Establishment of a Textile Technology and Development Centre in Mönchengladbach, Germany

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University, together with its partners, is pleased to announce that it has received approval for its joint initiative, ‘Textile Factory 7.0’. The goal of the project is the establishment of a technology and development centre for the textile industry in Mönchengladbach.

Orthopac RVMC-20 plus: German Engineering for Smarter Weft Straightening

In times of rising cost pressure and growing quality demands, textile producers worldwide are searching for solutions that combine precision, efficiency, and sustainability. With its latest innovation, the Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, Mahlo once again demonstrates the strength of German engineering: improving proven technology to meet today’s challenges.