#Raw Materials

2024-08-08

ICAC releases 2024 edition of the Specialty Cotton Report

The ICAC has released the new edition of the Specialty Cotton Report, a free publication that was created in 2023 to highlight the many new "identity cotton programs" that have been emerging around the world, in addition to covering long-staple (LS) and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton. For the ICAC's purposes, "specialty cotton" refers to any cotton that is remarkable in some way — LS, ELS, or falls under a specific identity program.

The opening pages of the publication are dedicated to global specialty cotton figures, followed by LS and ELS cotton, including a comprehensive global overview as well as a breakdown at the country level.

The identity programs highlighted in the 2024 edition of the Specialty Cotton Report include:

Better Cotton Initiative and equivalents
Brazil's ABR program
Cotton made in Africa
Australia's myBMP
CottonConnect's REEL
US Cotton Trust Protocol.

Beginning in 2023, the Specialty Cotton Report was published to expand what was then called the Extra-fine Cotton Update, according to the author, ICAC Commodity Trade Analyst Ms Parkhi Vats.

“Driven by rising production under identity programs and increasing efforts by governments to produce these specialized ELS and LS cottons, the lack of standardization in defining these types of cotton across national boundaries, and the presence of multiple identity programs necessitated the creation of a focused Specialty Cotton Report,” Ms Vats says. The next edition will be released in July 2025.

To read the 2024 ICAC Specialty Cotton Report, pleased click here:

https://www.icac.org/Content/PublicationsPdf%20Files/53972988_bd41_4290_9b5e_9c8d48510808/SCR%20JULY%202024.pdf.pdf

Fashion For Good launches “Beyond50 Denim” to address hemp integration barriers in global denim production

Fashion for Good, together with leading global brands BESTSELLER, C&A, PDS Limited, Reformation, and Target, launched Beyond50 Denim: Combining Cottonised Hemp and Green Chemistry, a project accelerating the use of hemp as an alternative to conventional cotton in denim. By combining two pioneering innovations (SEFF’s Nano-Pulse™ cottonised hemp fibres and FIBRE52™’s proprietary chemistry formulations with soft handfeel), the project seeks to demonstrate that hemp-based denim can match or even surpass cotton in both performance and appeal.

Spinnova and Rieter to publish a yarn spinning guideline for industrial partners

Spinnova and Rieter have published a comprehensive yarn spinning guideline for industrial partners, detailing how to produce compact yarn from SPINNOVA® fibre using Rieter’s state-of-the-art machinery. The step-by-step guide outlines key considerations at each stage of the spinning process and is available upon request.

Evonik and AMSilk extend partnership for sustainable biotech silk materials

Evonik and AMSilk, a global leader in advanced biomaterials based on silk proteins, have deepened their collaboration with a long-term agreement to produce sustainable silk proteins at industrial scale. Building on their initial manufacturing agreement from 2023, the companies have commissioned a manufacturing line at Evonik’s Slovakian site for AMSilk’s high-performance silk. This innovative biomaterial is produced with minimal environmental impact and is designed for use in premium fashion and highly demanding automotive interiors.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories to launch operations at new Southeast Asia production facility this week

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“Company” or “Kraig Labs”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, announces that it will begin operations this week at its newest production facility. This milestone marks the launch of the first full production cycle at the site. This production site was secured earlier this summer through an agreement with a government agency in Southeast Asia.

Rieter reports stable order backlog and strategic progress – outlook for 2025 adjusted

In its Investor Update 2025, Rieter announced an order intake of CHF 203.9 million in the third quarter and CHF 559.3 million after nine months, reflecting a continued cautious investment climate in the textile machinery sector. Sales totaled CHF 121.5 million in the third quarter and CHF 457.7 million for the first nine months of the year, while the order backlog stood at around CHF 590 million as of September 30, 2025.