Cotton industry leaders gathered at the West Texas Flow Marketing Meeting in Lubbock on September 20 to discuss the state of the industry and issues at hand such as supply chain, transportation, and warehousing.

Challenges:

• Smaller U.S. crop due to a dry and prolonged hot summer in the High Plains of Texas

• Slowdown in demand from China due to its economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions

• Increased competition from other countries such as Brazil

Opportunities:

• Growing demand for textiles in developed economies

• Potential for India to become a major player in the textile manufacturing sector

Key takeaways:

• Communication with partners is essential to plan for the season ahead

• Partnerships and constant communication with stakeholders are important to move cotton forward

• Effective engagement among different segments in cotton flow, brands, and retailers will be critical to address the lack of robust demand for textiles due to inflation

Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA reporting on the above observes, “Overall, the cotton industry is facing a number of challenges, but there are also opportunities for growth. By working together, industry leaders can overcome these challenges and capitalize on the opportunities.”