Cotton traders

Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest cotton producer Mali is mulling trials of genetically modified cotton, a development which could open up cheap cotton supplies for the textile and clothing trade. By Steven Swindells, in Johannesburg.

GM cotton gets frosty reception in Africa

4 May 2006

UZBEKISTAN: Spentex signs deal for cotton spun yarn unit

3 May 2006

Textile company Spentex has agreed a preliminary deal to establish a cotton spun yarn unit in Uzbekistan, the company was reported as Reuters as saying.

CHINA: Cotton shortage lifts imports

27 April 2006

Cotton imports into China have shown a double-digit rise in the first quarter of 2006, widening the country’s production-sales gap.

CHINA: Cotton Inc debuts Engineered Fiber Selection system

25 April 2006

Cotton Incorporated debuted its innovative Engineered Fiber Selection (EFS) System software at a special conference in China last week.

UGANDA: Apparel Tri Star to use local cotton

25 April 2006

Clothing maker Apparel Tri Star (U) Ltd is to start using locally grown cotton in its production by the end of this year.

LUXEMBOURG: European Court mulls cotton subsidy review

21 March 2006

Reforms to the European Union (EU)’s cotton subsidy system, decoupling aid from actual production, should be reviewed, a European Court of Justice (ECJ) advocate general has recommended.

AFGHANISTAN: World Bank ploughs $1.07m into cotton project

8 March 2006

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank has provided US$1.07m in investment guarantees for an export-oriented cotton project in northern Afghanistan.

WEST AFRICA: Cotton-four clarify subsidy cuts proposal

7 March 2006

The West African countries that have spearheaded the call for reductions in cotton subsidies at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Doha Development Round have released a proposed formula guaranteeing these cuts are significant.