Brazil will host, for the first time, the International Cotton Association (ICA) Trade Event, one of the most traditional and important meetings in the global cotton trade. The Brazilian edition will be held in São Paulo, from October 12th to 14th, 2027, in partnership with Cotton Brazil, a program developed by the Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa) in conjunction with the National Cotton Exporters Association (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), for the international promotion of Brazilian cotton. The choice of Brazil was one of the highlights during the 23rd Anea Cotton Dinner and Golf Tournament, held last week in Angra dos Reis (RJ), bringing together exporters, producers, trading companies, international buyers, agents, authorities, and leaders from the global cotton chain. Due to the synergy and similarity of target audiences, exceptionally in 2027, the traditional Anea Cotton Dinner & Golf Tournament will be incorporated into the ICA Trade Event program. By 2028, Anea's calendar will return to normal. “The choice of Brazil to host the ICA Trade Event proves the new place that Brazilian cotton occupies in the international market. It will be an opportunity to welcome, in São Paulo, the main global players in the fiber industry and showcase firsthand the quality, organization, and supply capacity of our country. In 2027, Anea will concentrate its efforts on this agenda, alongside Cotton Brazil and ICA,” states Dawid Wajs, president of Anea.
Tradition
Founded in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in 1841, the ICA is recognized as the oldest active cotton association in the world and a leading international authority on trade rules, arbitration, contract security, and relationships between market participants. The association emerged in the context of the expansion of the global cotton trade, amidst the transformations of the Industrial Revolution, when Liverpool was consolidating itself as one of the most important cotton centers in the world. The ICA Trade Event also carries a long tradition. For decades, the event was associated with Liverpool, the birthplace of the association and a historic city for the international cotton trade. From the 2000s onwards, with the name change from Liverpool Cotton Association to International Cotton Association, the ICA expanded its global presence and began holding events in different business centers, such as Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The 2027 edition will mark the first time the event will be held in South or Central America.
New position
For Bill Kingdon, managing director of the ICA, the decision to bring the event to Brazil reflects the country's new position in the international cotton market. According to him, Brazilian producers, traders, exporters, and agents have supported the ICA for many years, participating in events in different regions of the world. Now, the organization is taking an unprecedented step by bringing its main trade program to one of the most dynamic cotton supply chains in the world. “Brazil's place in the world cotton market is growing very rapidly. We wanted to bring the ICA trading event to one of the most exciting and vibrant communities in the world,” stated Kingdon. “We have never held an event in South or Central America, and this will also be the first time we will hold the event in partnership with another organization. It will continue to be an ICA event, but the partnership with Cotton Brazil made it possible to bring this program to Brazil,” he added. The same sentiment was shared by Pierre Chehab, president of the International Cotton Association (ICA), who participated in the Anea meeting in Brazil and highlighted the progress of the Brazilian cotton production chain, as well as the expectation for the Trade Event in São Paulo. “It is a great pleasure to return to Brazil and find such a vibrant industry. The changes since my last visit are impressive, and the work done by Brazilian cotton, here and in the world, deserves recognition. In 2027, we will organize together, with Anea, Abrapa and Cotton Brazil, the largest ICA event. Before that, we will be in Istanbul in 2026, but we already hope to see you all, and many other guests, in São Paulo the following year,” says Pierre Chehab, president of the International Cotton Association (ICA). The ICA expects to gather more than a thousand participants in São Paulo, a volume about 40% higher than that recorded in the largest previous editions of the meeting. The audience should include representatives from the main producing countries, exporters, importers, textile manufacturers, trading companies, agents, certification bodies, financial institutions, logistics companies and other links in the international chain. The event's arrival in the country coincides with a time when Brazil is consolidating its position as a strategic cotton supplier to the global market. With expanding production, high fiber quality, scale, traceability, socio-environmental certification, and a growing presence in key consumer markets, Brazilian cotton has been consistently advancing on the international agenda. Holding the ICA Trade Event in São Paulo confirms this new level of success.
Positive reception
According to Kingdon, the international reception to Brazil's selection has been very positive. He notes that the market recognizes the country's shift in position regarding cotton and understands that Brazil has become a natural destination to host the event. The challenge, he says, will also be to mobilize buyers and representatives from more distant regions, especially Asia, to participate in the program in São Paulo. "Everyone recognizes that Brazil's position in cotton is changing. It's very important, very vibrant, very exciting. Most of the world recognizes that Brazil is the right place to come," said the managing director of the ICA.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.