#Raw Materials

2026-08-13

World Cotton Day 2026 to bring global cotton and textile community to Tashkent on October 7

The Government of Uzbekistan and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) will host the official World Cotton Day 2026 Partners Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 7.

The event will be open to the public, with registration information and additional program details available on the World Cotton Day Partners Conference website (view the draft agenda here). The partner organizations, which have participated in annual World Cotton Day celebrations since the event was launched in 2019, are the ICAC, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Held under the theme “Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership,” the full-day event will bring together government officials, international organizations, cotton and textile industry representatives, development institutions, researchers, and other stakeholders from across the global value chain.

“Uzbekistan is proud to host World Cotton Day 2026 and welcome the international cotton and textile community to Tashkent,” said Ibrokhim Y. Abdurakhmonov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Agriculture. “This celebration will provide an important platform for sharing experience, building partnerships and exploring how cotton can contribute to employment, trade, investment, and sustainable economic development.”

The program will examine how cotton-producing and cotton-consuming countries can become more competitive, diversify their economies and build stronger connections among agriculture, industry, trade, and innovation.

Planned sessions include:

Trade, Transformation, and Partnership: How Cotton Builds Prosperity

Building Prosperity Across the Cotton Value Chain

Trust, Quality, and Responsible Cotton Supply Chains

Investment, Innovation, and Competitiveness in Cotton Economies

Carbon Markets and Climate Finance: New Opportunities for Cotton Farmers

The discussions will explore practical approaches to increasing cotton productivity, expanding domestic processing and textile manufacturing, attracting investment, strengthening relationships with global buyers, improving quality and traceability, and ensuring that farmers benefit from emerging opportunities such as carbon markets and climate finance.

“World Cotton Day gives the global community an opportunity to recognize cotton’s extraordinary economic and social importance while confronting the challenges facing the sector,” said ICAC Executive Director Eric B. Trachtenberg. “By opening the official celebration to the public, Uzbekistan is enabling more people to participate in this critical international conversation about cotton’s future.”

The program is expected to feature contributions from senior government representatives, international organizations, cotton and textile associations, development finance institutions, technology providers, private-sector companies, and producer organizations.

The event will conclude on October 8 with a Technical Tour hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan highlighting the country’s cotton and textile heritage, culture, and craftsmanship. All registered participants will have the opportunity to attend.

The confirmed agenda, speaker announcements, and other updates will be published soon.

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.

Global cotton production projected to outpace consumption, but risks remain

Global cotton production is projected to reach 26.2 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season, marginally outpacing estimated consumption of 25.9 million tonnes. However, early-season production risks — including weather volatility and pest pressures — could narrow that buffer as the crop progresses, according to the September 2026 issue of Cotton This Month, published by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

Global garment trade nears USD 550 billion as competition intensifies

The global garment industry has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two decades, with knit and woven garments together accounting for nearly 60% of world textile exports in 2025, according to the August 2026 issue of The Textiles Observer, a free publication from the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

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.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

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.

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.

Durak Maxibalance thread supports users’ movement and balance comfort

Durak Tekstil, a leading brand in its industry, has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR IR technology. Ushering in a new era for sportswear, activewear, and medical textiles, this technology offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it.