The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) presented a comprehensive overview of global cotton and textile industry trends during its 83rd Plenary Meeting in Bremen, with the Secretariat Reports session once again drawing significant attention.
The session opened with ICAC Economic Affairs Officer Parkhi Vats, who shared an outlook on the global cotton market. Her presentation covered early estimates for production and consumption, along with projections for imports and exports. She also reviewed recent trade agreements, tariff developments, and provided insights into identity and specialty cotton segments, including long- and extra-long staple varieties.
Economist Lorena Ruiz followed with an analysis of global textile fibre demand and findings from the ICAC Global Survey on Women in the Cotton Sector. While overall fibre demand continues to rise in line with economic and population growth, the increase is largely driven by polyester, particularly in China. She noted that geopolitical tensions and high energy costs are putting pressure on production and trade. To strengthen cotton’s competitiveness, the industry must focus on improving productivity and better communicating its sustainability credentials, supported by ICAC’s data and coordination efforts.
The survey findings highlighted ongoing gender disparities in the cotton sector. Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles and are predominantly engaged in manual work, with limited access to training and resources. Addressing these challenges will require more structured and inclusive industry initiatives.
Kanwar Usman, Head of Textiles at ICAC, presented strategies for developing textile value chains in cotton-rich countries. His discussion focused on investment requirements for various stages of textile manufacturing—including spinning, weaving, processing, and garment production—along with their respective production capacities.
Chief Scientist Keshav Kranthi provided insights into the global economics of cotton production, showcasing the ICAC Production Data Portal. The platform offers extensive data on production costs, input usage such as fertilizers and pesticides, cotton varieties, and pest distribution. He also highlighted the 2025 Cotton Data Book, a detailed publication analysing sustainability aspects of cotton production across 38 countries.
The session concluded with Director of Communications Mike McCue, who outlined ICAC’s efforts to promote cotton globally. He highlighted initiatives such as social media campaigns, including the #TruthTuesday series, as well as the organisation’s support for World Cotton Day, celebrated annually on October 7. He emphasised the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders to enhance cotton’s visibility and reputation worldwide.
The ICAC 83rd Plenary Meeting, held on March 23–24, 2026, ahead of the International Cotton Conference Bremen, focused on the theme “Uniting the Cotton and Textiles Value Chain for a Sustainable Future.” The event reinforced ICAC’s role as the only international body addressing the entire cotton value chain—from production to end-of-life—while promoting sustainability and global industry collaboration.