Participation in one of the world’s leading industry events reinforces the importance of natural fibers and strategic relationships with international partners
Cotton Brazil participated in the ICA Trade Event Istanbul 2026, one of the leading international gatherings of the cotton supply chain, bringing the importance of promoting natural fibers to the global discussion and strengthening relationships with industry partners. Held on October 14 and 15 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, ICA 2026 brought together approximately 600 delegates from the global cotton community, including growers, exporters and representatives of major consumer markets.
During the event, the Brazilian delegation presented the “Hanging by a Thread” movement, known in Brazil as “Microplástico é o Fim da Linha,” which seeks to raise awareness about the presence of microplastics in everyday life and their potential impacts on health and the environment.
Primarily focused on engaging the Brazilian public and promoting public policies, the movement joins other initiatives across the supply chain to expand access to information and transparency, encourage research and innovation, and create new opportunities for the use of natural fibers whenever technically appropriate. “The goal is not to eliminate synthetic fibers, but to encourage debate and promote more conscious choices,” says Gustavo Piccoli, president of the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa).
International cooperation is also among the approaches identified by the association to advance this agenda. “It is important to understand how we can move forward with other producing countries, particularly the United States and Australia, through joint initiatives,” emphasizes Fernando Rati, Head of Business and International Relations at Abrapa.
More information about the “Hanging by a Thread” movement can be found at: microplasticofimdalinha.com.br
Strategic Relationships and Brazilian Leadership
Brazil’s participation in the ICA Trade Event Istanbul 2026 comes at a time when the country’s cotton sector plays a leading role in the global market. As the world’s third-largest cotton producer and leading exporter, Brazil closed the 2025/26 marketing year with a record 3.37 million metric tons of cotton lint exported, an increase of approximately 19% compared to the previous season. This performance reinforces the importance of maintaining relationships with buyers, textile manufacturers, trading companies and representatives of major consumer markets.
“The ICA is always a place where we seek to gather the perspectives of this highly select and multidisciplinary audience, representing different links in the supply chain. This helps us position ourselves increasingly better,” says Fernando Rati.
Commenting on Brazil’s participation, Dawid Wajs, president of the Brazilian Cotton Exporters Association (ANEA), highlighted the evolution of the country’s cotton sector. “We conveyed a very clear message about how things are evolving in Brazil and how the country seeks to ensure sustainable growth. More than that, we want the entire global textile industry to be able to count on cotton to grow and increase fiber consumption worldwide,” he says.
Brazil’s participation takes on even greater significance in light of the next edition of the event. In 2027, the ICA will be held in Brazil for the first time, in São Paulo, providing an expanded opportunity to showcase the structure, progress and competitiveness of the Brazilian cotton sector to the international market.
Cotton Brazil Luncheon Brings Together Partners Ahead of the Event
Cotton Brazil’s strategic agenda in Istanbul also included the Cotton Brazil Luncheon, a gathering aimed at strengthening relationships with international partners, presenting the outlook for Brazilian cotton production and expanding dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of the global market. Held on the eve of the opening of the ICA Trade Event 2026, the gathering brought together Brazilian cotton growers, textile industry representatives, traders and industry organizations from different countries.
“This was the largest event in terms of attendance that we have ever organized alongside the ICA Trade Event program. Traditionally, we bring together opinion leaders and key individuals who are extremely strategic across each link of the supply chain, coming from various countries for the event organized by the International Cotton Association,” explains Fernando Rati.
The Cotton Brazil Luncheon featured two panels. The first presented the results of Brazil’s 2025/26 cotton crop and the outlook for 2026/27, covering aspects such as production, planted area, quality and sustainability. The second focused on Cotton Brazil’s strategies for the coming years, also highlighting the “Hanging by a Thread” movement.
Brazilian Representation
The Brazilian delegation in Istanbul includes representatives of the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa), the Brazilian Cotton Exporters Association (ANEA) and ApexBrasil.
Abrapa was also represented by Vice President Celestino Zanella, Marcelo Duarte, who participated in the official ICA program, and other directors and board members. In addition to President Dawid Wajs, ANEA was represented by Vice President Ariel Coelho, along with directors and members. ApexBrasil was represented by Rafaela Albuquerque, a specialist in its Agribusiness Management Department.
About Cotton Brazil
Cotton Brazil is an initiative of Abrapa, ANEA and ApexBrasil aimed at promoting Brazilian cotton in the international market. The program seeks to expand the presence of Brazilian cotton in major consumer markets, strengthen relationships with buyers and textile industry representatives, and showcase the attributes of Brazilian cotton, with an emphasis on quality, competitiveness and responsible production.
