Participants who attended the 2024 COTTON USA™ Summit, held November 11-13 in Carlsbad, California, expect to purchase an additional 1.45 million bales of U.S. cotton, valued at approximately $375 million. The COTTON USA™ Summit is funded by the Market Access Program Fund (MAP) and U.S. cotton industry contributions.
Cotton Council International (CCI) organizes the COTTON USA™ Summit to bring together top cotton executives and representatives from the U.S. cotton industry for a series of seminars and networking events. Held biennially since 1999 (with a break in 2001 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Summit is a vital event for driving global partnerships within the cotton industry. Over 380 representatives from 29 countries attended the Summit, representing 126 international mills that collectively consumed more than 19 million bales of cotton in 2024 (approximately 17% of all global consumption).
The 2024 COTTON USA™ Summit came at a critical time for the industry. In recent years, global demand for cotton has stagnated, raising concerns about potential future declines. Several participating mills reported operating below full capacity, with some running at less than 50%. Acknowledging the challenging business climate, the COTTON USA™ Summit urged participants to think differently and adapt to change – embracing the mantra to “innovate or die.” The event featured sessions on the role of technology and artificial intelligence, while highlighting how The COTTON USA™ Difference will take companies to the next level in the years ahead.
The COTTON USA™ Difference provides unmatched value for U.S. cotton customers through a combination of services, data, and intelligence that drive superior results. Global COTTON USA™ events, such as the COTTON USA™ Summit, offer exclusive networking opportunities and education that enhance decision-making. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, the world’s leading platform for cotton sustainability and traceability, ensures full supply chain transparency and science-based, field-level verified data. Additionally, COTTON USA SOLUTIONS® offers tailored business solutions and insights that optimize mill efficiency and maximize results. Together, these offerings set U.S. cotton apart from the competition, positioning it as the partner of the future for mills around the world.
Feedback from the participants showed the Summit was a success. 88% of the participants reported the Summit provided information on the global cotton industry that will help their company better prepare for the future and 82% reported the Summit convinced them of the advantages of U.S. cotton versus alternatives.
And the impact of the Summit was immediate. 86% of mill participants indicated they expect to purchase additional U.S. cotton in the next year. Following the event, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a marketing year high of 318,500 bales during the week of the Summit – a 72% increase of the 4-week average, with the largest increases coming from Pakistan, Vietnam, Turkey, China, and Bangladesh – all of which were highly represented at the event.