Page 11 - TEXtalks January/February 2022

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Cotton Council International
US apparel imports 2021 showed the

fastest growth of the past decade elects 2022 Officers

A complete analysis of the 2021 full-year US import members (up 3.8%), India (up 3.4%), Indonesia
data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) (down 5.7%), US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement
revealed that US apparel imports grew by 27.4%, the (USMCA) members (down 11.0%), and Dominican
fastest growth of the past decade. This has been the Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement
fastest growth over the past decade and a more (CAFTA-DR) members (up 0.6%).
significant rebound than during the 2008 global
financial crisis (only 13% growth the year after).
Asian countries’ market shares dropped from 74.2%
The value of US apparel imports in 2021 remained in 2020 to 72.8% in 2021, the lowest in the past five
2.5% lower than in 2019 before the pandemic. Except years. Notably, affected by Covid-related lockdown
for Bangladesh, most leading apparel suppliers for measures, together with other factors, several
the US market also see their export value in 2021 leading Asian apparel suppliers suffered a decline in
short of or only increased marginally compared with their market shares in 2021, led by Vietnam (down Cotton Council International (CCI) has elected new the President of Cotton Council International (CCI) for
the pre-Covid level, including China (down 21.3%), 2.01%), Cambodia (down 0.25%), and Indonesia officers for 2022. Carlos C. Garcia, a cooperative 2022. Bruce said, “No other cotton has our long
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (down a 0.41%). official from Lubbock, Texas, was elected as history of innovation, transparency, and high quality.
president of CCI for the said year. Garcia and other Our mission is to make U.S. cotton the preferred fiber
CCI officers were elected at CCI’s board meeting for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.
held as part of the NCC’s 2022 Annual Meeting that COTTON USA has become the cotton the world
convened in Houston. trusts because of years of transparent partnership.
We value quality and with a new team will also keep
focusing on the efficiency for our customers.”
CCI is the National Cotton Council’s (NCC) export
PM announces to establish promotion arm and carries out programs in more William Bettendorf (Director, Supply Chain
than 50 countries globally under the COTTON USA™
Marketing, South & Southeast Asia. CCI) expressed
trademark.
Pakistan Cotton Authority to Other 2022 CCI officers elected include: his appreciation for the newly elected CCI team.
William said, “COTTON USA is committed to bringing
you the latest in cotton innovation, and it has built a
• Ted D. Sheely as Chairman
worldwide trust regarding its quality, sustainability,
• Steve Dyer as Vice President
increase cotton production • Gary Adams as Secretary and traceability. COTTON USA is committed to
• Bruce Atherley as Assistant Secretary
increasing customer satisfaction, and the newly
• Carlo Bocardo as CCI Treasurer
elected team will further enhance the trust the brands
“Despite the global pandemic, CCI held 35 events – and stakeholders have in COTTON USA.”
Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, conducted a should be taken to provide genuine relief to the both virtually and in person – in 12 of the biggest Mazhar Hussain Mirza (Cotton Council International
meeting to increase cotton production across the farmers at ground level. The government is also cotton importing countries of the world in 2021,” Representative in Pakistan) congratulated Carlos C.
country to provide sustainable cotton supply to the trying to provide maximum facilities to the fertilizer Carlos C. Garcia said. “I was proud to represent the Garcia on being elected as president of CCI for 2022.
textile sector of Pakistan in the future. He stressed sector to avoid shortages. The government has U.S. industry during a COTTON USA event last year He also offered best wishes to Garcia and the
that there is a strong need to increase the already subsidized the fertilizer sector with 15.5
productivity per acre, which can be achieved through billion rupees. PM said to increase fertilizer and saw firsthand how CCI’s business-building elected members. Mazhar said, “Hopefully, Garcia
adaptation to the latest technology and farming tools. production capacity with the installation of new units programs resonate with our customers overseas. I will continue his known legacy to promote CCI
He said that the government would provide the in the country.Farmers, textile spinners, and other will continue to communicate U.S. cotton’s functions around the globe, especially in Pakistan &
farmers with subsidized fertilizers, agricultural tools, stakeholders applaud the initiative as Pakistan, an competitive advantages with CCI in 2022 with a focus Pakistan is the largest importer of US cotton globally
and high-quality seeds that are inevitable for better agricultural and textile country, needs special on the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® and COTTON with the third-largest cotton spinning capacity in Asia.
production. attention and such initiatives to improve cotton USA SOLUTIONS™.” Therefore, Pakistan is an important country for CCI.”
production. It is hoped that with the proper steps Mazhar said, “Under the leadership of Carcia, CCI
Imran Khan said that their government had launched taken, the country will decrease the gap in cotton Bruce Atherley (Executive Director. CCI) also would further enhance its influence in the country for
the Kisan Card, and all necessary measurements production and consumption within the country. congratulated Carlos C. Garcia on being elected as the betterment of the textile sector."

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