#Raw Materials

2024-06-27

Jean-Paul Haessig stays President of the Bremen Cotton Exchange

The Board of the Bremen Cotton Exchange confirmed Jean-Paul Haessig as President of the association on the occasion of the General Assembly on 21 June. Haessig is a director of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Singapore-based trading company Asian Cotton Traders PTE Ltd.

The Vice Presidents Fritz A. Grobien, Managing Partner of Albrecht, Müller-Pearse & Co. Trade (GmbH & Co.) KG, Bremen, Jens D. Lukaczik, Managing Partner of the service company Cargo Control Germany GmbH & Co. KG in Bremen and Stephanie Silber, Managing Director of Otto Stadtlander GmbH, Bremen, will continue to serve as members of the Executive Committee.

President Haessig emphasizes: “I see a very challenging situation for the textile industry in Europe, but also globally. Contrary to our hopes, the global economic situation has remained tense overall and this is also having an impact on the textile industry. In addition, there are legal requirements, particularly from Brussels, which are putting a strain on supply chains. As the Bremen Cotton Exchange, we consider it as our task to ensure the greatest possible transparency for our members and also to represent the natural fibre cotton politically.”

Guest Speaker Professor Jean-François Gribomont

Jean-François Gribomont, CEO of the Belgian textile factory Utexbel NV, was invited to speak at this year's Annual General Meeting. In his role as President of the European textile association EUROCOTON, Gribomont reported on the current situation of the textile industry in Europe and the upcoming legislative projects at European level.

EUROCOTON - European Confederation of Cotton and Allied Textile Industries is the voice of the European textile industry for cotton and synthetic staple fibers, from cotton ginning to the production of yarns and fabrics from cotton and synthetic staple fibers. Due to the current relevance of the subject, a lively debate ensued among the participants, who shared their view of these developments from an entrepreneurial perspective.

Elections of the Board

The 150th Ordinary General Assembly of the Bremen Cotton Exchange in the 152nd year after the founding of the association approved the accounts, accepted the annual report of the Board of Directors for the fiscal year 2023 and unanimously granted discharge to the Board of Directors and management.

As usual, new elections to the Board also took place during the General Assembly. Henning Hammer, Otto Stadtlander GmbH, Bremen and Jan Kettelhack, Hch. Kettelhack GmbH + Co. KG, Rheine, retired from the Board as scheduled. Jan Kettelhack was newly elected to the Board. Peter Spoerry, Spoerry 1886 AG, Flums/Switzerland, resigned from the Board at his own request.

Further members of the Board are:

Hannes Drolle, Getzner Textil AG, Bludenz/Austria, Ernst Grimmelt, Velener Textil GmbH in Velen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Dr Uwe Mazura, General Manager of the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry, Berlin, Konrad Schröer, Setex-Textil-GmbH, Hamminkeln-Dingden, Roland Stelzer, Gebr. Elmer & Zweifel GmbH & Co. KG, Bempflingen, and Axel Trede, Cotton Service International GmbH, Bremen. Advisory members of the Board are Manfred Kern from the Association of the Austrian Textile, Fashion, Shoe, and Leather Industry as well as Björn von der Crone from Swiss textiles association Swisstextiles.

A special feature of the Bremen Cotton Exchange: The members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are mostly from companies from different areas of the cotton supply chain, such as trade, processing, and services. This gives the commodities association access to an extensive network and worldwide information resources within the global cotton sector and beyond in the textile industry.

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.

Beyond Cotton: Natural Fibres in the Spotlight at the Bremen Cotton Conference - Branded by DNFI

Climate targets, fragile supply chains, and rising regulatory requirements are fundamentally changing the perspective of the textile industry - the focus is increasingly shifting toward the base material. Not only cotton, but natural fibres are gaining significant importance: they stand out not only because of their outstanding functional properties, but also because they make a valuable contribution to the bioeconomy and responsible product development.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

ICAC’s 84th Plenary Meeting to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt

Registration will soon be open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt. The local Organizing Committee in Egypt has chosen “Building a Resilient and Competitive Future for Cotton and Textiles” as the theme for the event, which will be held at the Rixos Montaza Alexandria Resort.

EFI and Agfa’s DPS Business to combine andform a global, full-service industrial inkjet company

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (“EFI”), a leading industrial inkjet business and portfolio company of Siris, and Agfa-Gevaert (“Agfa”) today announced a definitive agreement to combine Agfa’s Digital Printing Solutions business (“Agfa DPS”) with EFI. An affiliate of Siris will hold a 60% interest and Agfa will hold a 40% interest in the jointly held company, which will bring together the operating capabilities of EFI and Agfa DPS under a governance structure whereby Siris and Agfa will act as equal partners.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.