#Raw Materials

2022-01-20

‘Review’ articles ask: What in the world is going on with global logistics in cotton?

No sector of the cotton & textile supply chain went through more chaos over the past two years than shipping and logistics, which continue to be plagued by a host of issues including the following.

Delays at ports, where ships are often parked offshore for days or weeks before they can be unloaded,

Lack of space at port warehouses,

Lack of truckers to pick up goods and carry them inland,

Lack of available containers, and

Wild and expensive swings in freight rates.

There are, however, some positives that are expected to emerge from this global shipping mess. For example, the Australian government is reviewing the entire country's maritime shipping and logistics systems to remove bottlenecks and increase technology adoption. In India, e-invoicing and the goods and services tax have streamlined interior logistics, while businesses in the United States are reconsidering just-in-time inventory and looking for new incentives for shippers, truckers and port workers to ensure the labour is available when it's needed.

With new virus variants still emerging and global logistics challenges still mounting, no one is quite sure when things will get back to normal — or even what normal will look like when the pandemic is over. But as one of the authors concluded, all stakeholders in the cotton supply chain should be using this time to evaluate their processes and operations so they will be better prepared the next time disaster strikes.

To view this FREE edition of ‘Cotton: Review of the World Situation’, please click here:

https://www.icac.org/Publications/PastIssues?Id=64

Executive Summary

Highlights from the current issue of the ‘Review’ include:

• Five articles focussing on shipping and logistics in different parts of the world

• The regions covered are Australia, Brazil, India, Taiwan and the United States

• The challenges are affecting all areas: ports, shipping, warehousing and trucking

• However, while the problems are daunting and still piling up, stakeholders across the globe are using this time to reevaluate their operations and upgrade them so they're better prepared for the next disaster

To make matters worse, any type of scheduling delay can cause a cascade of new problems further downstream, making uncertainty the only given in today's supply chain.

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.

Beyond the wardrobe – innovative cotton takes the spotlight

Cotton can do more – a lot more. Cutting-edge textiles and high-tech products made from 100% cotton prove just how powerfully performance and sustainability can come together. That very surge of innovation is front and centre at the 38th Bremen Cotton Conference, taking place March 25–27, 2026, at Bremen’s Parliament on the historic market square – culminating in a bold and dedicated closing session on Friday. In the spotlight: performance upgrades for pure cotton, smart strategies for circular textile waste solutions, and pioneering concepts for demanding technical applications. From natural fibre–reinforced composites to highly effective flame-retardant solutions, cotton steps out of the closet and shows the future potential woven into every fibre.

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

Esquel Group’s Xinjiang Research & Development Center has successfully developed two new Sea Island cotton (Extra-Long-Staple cotton, ELS cotton) varieties named “Yuan Loong 37” and “Yuan Loong 42,” which have been officially approved and granted registration numbers. Both varieties have also obtained Plant Variety Rights certificates, marking another significant breakthrough for the Group in cotton breeding and commercial application.

Aid by Trade Foundation reaches new milestones in supply chain transparency

The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is reaching new milestones as it leads the way towards greater physical traceability for Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) cotton. With around 700 suppliers and producers in a total of 25 countries, the Aid by Trade Foundation has reached a new record number of partners who can trace CmiA cotton from the product back to its origin. This is more than double the previous year’s figure.

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.

Barmag presents the next generation of POY production – energy-efficient and partial-automated

With POY 2.0, Barmag is introducing a completely redesigned spinning concept that takes the production of partially oriented yarn (POY) to a new level in terms of technology and economy. The solution, which was presented to a selected audience of experts for the first time at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025, was met with great enthusiasm: several yarn producers worldwide immediately expressed their interest in a pilot plant.

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem to accelerate technology scale‑up

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem (consortium) to help advance the scale‑up of Spinnova’s technology. Spinnova has actively sought partners to accelerate commercial scale‑up, and Circulose, as a key player in textile recycling, strengthens the ecosystem by providing a raw material that is in high demand across the industry.