Tashkent, Uzbekistan —The Reports from the Secretariat are one of the most eagerly awaited sessions at the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) Plenary Meeting each year, and the 82nd edition, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, did not let down.
Data scientist Dr. Matthew Looney gave the opening remarks for the session on the global cotton market outlook. According to him, the global cotton market is forecast to see a phase of gradual recovery and adjustment in 2023–2024. Production levels are anticipated to be mostly same, while consumption is anticipated to slightly increase.
Ms. Parkhi Vats, a commodity trade analyst, was the following speaker. She talked about specialty cotton and the global cotton trade. A summary of the 2023–2024 season, import and export statistics, and detailed information on identification and specialty cottons, including long- and extra-long staple varieties, were all provided by her.
Ms. Lorena Ruiz, an economist, gave a talk about the demand and supply for textiles worldwide. She included comprehensive details on the world’s leading importers and exporters, as well as its major trading partners, in addition to consumption, demand, and other defining patterns.
In his presentation, “Textiles Strategy: Developing the Textiles Value Chain in Cotton-Rich Countries,” Mr. Kanwar Usman, Head of Textiles, outlined the necessary actions to optimize the economic value for nations that produce cotton fiber but do not process it. “The ICAC is working to help some cotton-abundant countries move beyond raw material exports,” he added, adding that several countries with limited cotton resources have successfully developed robust textile sectors.
Mr Usman’s presentation was followed by “Global Economics of Cotton Production,” delivered by Chief Scientist Dr Keshav Kranthi. He spoke about input use in cotton — water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Dr Kranthi pointed out that despite its thirsty reputation, cotton occupies 2.38% of the world’s arable land but uses only 1.8% of global irrigation water.
The final speaker was Director of Communications Mike McCue, whose topic was the ICAC’s Efforts on Cotton Promotion. He discussed ICAC initiatives such as social media campaigns, including the popular #TruthTuesday posts, as well as the extensive support it provides for the global World Cotton Day activities held every October 7.
