#Raw Materials

2021-05-11

ICAC Secretariat releases 2021 reports on world cotton statistics, cotton trade and textile demand

Every year, the cotton and textile industries eagerly await the release of three major annual publications from the Secretariat of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC):

Executive Summary

The ICAC Secretariat Reports include the release of:

‘World Cotton Statistics’, a very large Excel spreadsheet with some information dating back to the 1920/21 season

‘World Cotton Trade’, which contains data on raw cotton dating back more than 40 years

‘World Textile Demand’, which provides analyses of world consumption of textile fibres, mill use and trade of cotton yarn and fabric and production of chemical yarn for more than 100 countries

1) World Cotton Statistics. Available on a USB drive, this huge Excel spreadsheet provides:

- World cotton supply/demand statistics since 1920/21 (by country since 1940/41),

- Production, area, yield, consumption, imports, exports and stocks,

- Five-year projections,

- Monthly and seasonal average prices of cotton and polyester,

- Comparison of ICAC forecasts since 2001/02 with actual results, and

- It also includes an overview of factors affecting world cotton prices; changes in world stocks and government policies affecting trade; and statistics on aggregate world cotton supply and use.

2) World Cotton Trade, which offers:

- Trade developments in raw cotton since 1980,

- Analysis of world trade by region,

- Import/export projections for approximately 50 countries,

- Matrices of trade flows,

- Seasonal estimates of export commitments to date,

- Data on trade for all partner countries for each reporting country, and

- Information on the value of cotton lint traded, with the data sets already been updated for the past six seasons for each of the reporting countries (new for the 2021 issue).

3) World Textile Demand, which includes:

- Comprehensive analyses and projections of world end-use consumption of textile fibres, mill use and trade of cotton yarn and fabric and production of chemical yarn for over 100 countries,

- Provides analysis on events that have an impact on world textile demand and cotton’s share of the textile market, and

- World textile fibre end-use demand with 5-year projections.

Subscribers who purchase the Statistics, Trade and Textile Demand reports will get the mid-year update, which is typically released at the beginning of the ICAC Plenary Meeting, at no additional charge.

To purchase one or more of the above publications, please click here, then click ‘Paid Publications’ and select the publication you want:

https://icac.org/Publications?MenuId=41

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.