Brazil will host the world cotton event in 2027

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 selection 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 supply chain.

Due to synergy and similarity of audiences, exceptionally in 2027, the traditional Anea Cotton Dinner & Golf Tournament will be incorporated into the ICA Trade Event schedule. In 2028, the Anea 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,” says Dawid Wajs, president of Anea.

Tradition

Founded in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in 1841, the ICA is recognized as the oldest active cotton organization in the world and one of the leading international references in trade rules, arbitration, contract security, and relations between market agents. 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 centers of the world cotton industry.

The ICA Trade Event also carries a long tradition. For decades, the event was associated with Liverpool, the birthplace of the organization 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 meeting 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 global 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,” said Kingdon. “We’ve never held an event in South or Central America, and this will also be the first time we’re partnering with another organization. It will remain an ICA event, but the partnership with Cotton Brazil has made it possible to bring this program to Brazil,” he added.

The same view 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 around 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 look forward to seeing you all, and many other guests, in São Paulo the following year,” says Pierre Chehab, president of the International Cotton Association (ICA).

ICA expects to gather more than a thousand participants in São Paulo, a volume approximately 40% higher than that recorded in the largest previous editions of the event. The audience is expected to include representatives from the main producing, exporting, and importing countries, textile manufacturers, trading companies, agents, certification bodies, financial institutions, logistics companies, and other links in the international supply 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 ICA.