COTTON traders from across the globe have descended on Liverpool today for an annual celebration of their industry.
The Liverpool-based International Cotton Association (ICA), whose rules govern most of the world’s cotton trade, is launching its annual conference today with a reception at Liverpool Town Hall.
The conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel runs until Friday when Liverpool Cathedral will host the association’s annual dinner – one of the UK’s biggest trade dinners.
The ICA has been based in Liverpool since 1841. More than 80% of the world’s cotton is now traded under the rules of the International Cotton Association, which are still known as the “Liverpool Rules”.
The association has teamed up with Liverpool John Moores University to provide an area at the Crowne Plaza for creative businesses to show how cotton can be used creatively.
SixtyEight Design, based at LJMU, has designed the “Cotton Flower” exhibition space, where young northern businesses can showcase their products.
ICA president Wallace Darneille, of Lubbock, Texas, said: “This is the premier gathering of the international cotton trade every year.
“We’ve got people from 50 or more countries across the entire spectrum of the industry from produces to consumers and merchants.
“We’ve got people coming to discuss their businesses and talk about what’s going on in different parts of the world.”
Subjects up for debate will include US cotton and farm policies, the cotton market in China, French West Africa and Brazil, and predictions for world demand.
The keynote speaker at Friday’s dinner is J Berrye Worsham, chief executive of US cotton research and marketing company Cotton Incorporated, who will talk about how to preserve cotton’s market share in the textile industry.
Mr Darneille said: “His message is about how we can keep cotton consumption from losing more market share.
“If you look at the ’60s and ’70s, it was losing market share very rapidly.
“We have to continue to fight the fight of promoting cotton as the fabric of choice.”
alistairhoughton
