[pageLogInLogOut]

#Raw Materials

Keynote sessions announced for 36th International Cotton Conference Bremen

Nils Haupt, Hapag-Lloyd © 2022 Hapag-Lloyd
The Bremen Cotton Exchange and the Bremen Fibre Institute e.V. together are inviting to the 36th International Cotton Conference Bremen on 29. and 30. September. Under the Slogan “Cotton Decoded” the conference participants will be offered an ambitious programme with topical lectures and lively discussion groups on location in Bremen as well as online via a conference platform. Bremen stands for quality – as especially the International Cotton Conference Bremen confirms impressively with its regularly up to 500 participants from 40 countries that are part of the cotton supply chain.

THE KEYNOTE SESSIONS

• Expert Outlook Raw Materials,

• Expert Outlook Cargo,

• Expert Outlook Finances


Strong Keynotes

“Over the last years, the keynotes have emerged as an ambitious item on the programme before the actual conference programme in Bremen. First-rate experts speak about topics that move the raw material world and challenge it economically”, emphasises Elke Hortmeyer, responsible for communication and international relationships at the Bremen Cotton Exchange and co-organiser of the International Cotton Conference.

Commodity Markets and Logistics

Strong keynotes will also ring in the two conference days of the upcoming conference. On the Thursday, Colin Iles, Executive Manager, Marketing Cotton & Sugar at the internationally acting raw material concern Glencore/Viterra, Rotterdam, will cast a glance into the future of cotton. Colin Iles need not be introduced to the cotton world. The experienced trader of raw materials has been working in his field for a long time. His view of the developments in the global commodity markets offers important and exclusive insights to all participants.

Colin Iles, Glencore/Viterra  © 2022  Glencore/Viterra
Colin Iles, Glencore/Viterra © 2022 Glencore/Viterra


As the second speaker of the opening session and no less relevant, Nils Haupt has confirmed his participation as a sparring partner. Haupt is head of communications of Hapag- Lloyd AG, Hamburg, the biggest shipping company in Germany and the fifth biggest shipping company in the world. Haupt will address the future of maritime transport and questions of sustainability in cargo and also elaborate on the challenges within global supply chains.

International Financial Economy

On the second day of the conference, everything will revolve around finances. John Baffes is an expert on raw materials at the World Bank Washington, D.C. and chief economist in the group “Development Perspectives” of the World Bank. He is currently responsible for the “Commodity Markets Outlook”, a quarterly World Bank publication focusing on commodity market analyses and price prognoses. Participants can look forward to fascinating insights into current economic developments from the perspective of multinational development bank.

An equally heavy weight from a completely different area of finances comes from Frankfurt: Jörg de Vries- Hippen is Chief Investment Officer and member of the European Executive Committee at Allianz Global Investors.

For two decades, Allianz GI has been developing investment strategies for institutional as well as private clients from all over the world who are saving their assets with a view to the future. The market expertise of the company ranges from industrial to emerging countries, from single-country to global strategies. The investment volume amounts to 637 bn EUR. The perspective of the financial expert on developments within the world economy should be a fascinating one at the moment.





Bremen Cotton Night Special The Bremen Cotton Exchange and the Bremen Fibre Institute are inviting to the well-known and popular Bremen Cotton Night again this year again. It is characterised by the 150th anniversary of the Bremen Cotton Exchange and is for good reasons taking place in the Übersee-Museum (Overseas Museum) Bremen this time: concurrently that evening, the doors of the museum are opening for an impressive exhibition on the cultural history of cotton. This way, it also becomes accessible for the international guests of the Cotton Conference. “The participants of the conference will celebrate in the big atrium of the museum. Enjoying good music and good food, they will at last be able once again to spin personal networks and at the same time to pass in review the multi- faceted world of cotton with a beautiful and well-conceived exhibition”, emphasises Stephanie Silber, President of the Bremen Cotton Exchange. In the anniversary year, the Bremen Cotton Night is included in the conference price.

John Baffes, World Bank © 2022 World Bank
John Baffes, World Bank © 2022 World Bank


This year´s International Cotton Conference is taking place in the anniversary year of the Bremen Cotton Exchange. The organisation was founded in 1872 and is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. The conference venue this year is not the historic town hall, but the Chamber of Commerce in Bremen in the immediate vicinity of the Cotton Exchange. The Chamber of Commerce has been representing the interests of trade in Bremen since 1451 and is in close contact with the Bremen Cotton Exchange.

Exterior view of the Übersee-Museums | CC BY-SA 4.0 Übersee-Museum Bremen, photo: Matthias Haase
Exterior view of the Übersee-Museums | CC BY-SA 4.0 Übersee-Museum Bremen, photo: Matthias Haase


Registration is underway

The starting gun for the registration has been fired: you can register at https://cotton-conference-bremen.de/ from now on. You will also find regularly updated information there.

We will continually inform about the International Cotton Conference on 29 and 30 September and about the complete programme in the run-up in the form of further press releases as well as target-group-specific newsletters and also via our social media channels.



More News from Bremer Baumwollbörse

#Natural Fibers

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.

#Raw Materials

Fiber traceability - A vehicle to ensure sustainability or injustice?

The Bremen Cotton Exchange is making a new paper available for download. In this paper, analyst Veronica Bates Kassatly and statistician Terry Townsend examine the justifications behind this approach and assess the consequences for textile and apparel sustainability claims and global legislation.

#Raw Materials

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.

#Natural Fibers

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.

More News on Raw Materials

#Raw Materials

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative partners with Avalo in AI plant breeding for climate-resilient cotton

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has partnered with agriculture solutions company Avalo, whose platform accelerates the speed at which plants with key resiliency traits may be developed.

#Raw Materials

ICAC International Seminar in Taipei to explore strategic synergies across the textile supply chain

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) — together with the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan — will bring international cotton and textile leaders together in Taipei on September 10 for the ICAC International Seminar 2026.

#Raw Materials

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

Latest News

#Man-Made Fibers

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

#Natural Fibers

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.

#Man-Made Fibers

Bemberg and Anita Dongre collaborate once again to launch “BREATH” collection

BembergTM and Anita Dongre present BREATH, a ready to wear collection of 18 key silhouettes, shaped by a common belief that true beauty is inseparable from caring for the environment.

#Weaving

"Dynamic markets do not only create uncertainty – they also create opportunities."

Volatile markets, increasingly complex materials and growing demands for flexibility are changing the weaving industry. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging in technical textiles, filtration, composites and many other specialised applications. Since taking over as Head of DORNIER's Weaving Machines Product Line at the beginning of 2026, Yvonne Schuberth has been helping to shape this development. In this interview with TexData, she explains why process stability and customer proximity remain the foundation of innovation, how digitalisation is transforming weaving mills, and why she believes the future belongs to technologically demanding applications.

TOP