Cotton
Highlights
LDC entered the global cotton business 40+ years ago, and has grown to be a world leader in cotton merchandizing, serving all major consumer markets today.
Major Player
Active Worldwide
Expanding Cotton Origination
About Cotton
Cotton is a bulk staple fiber produced from the cotton plant, used as the primary raw material for textiles all over the globe. It is grown in tropical and subtropical regions, within latitudes with long frost-free periods of 150 days or more, in a year.
Asia is key region for both cotton production and consumption. Together, China and India produce and consume about half of the world’s cotton. China is a large importer, along with Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Brazil is the world’s largest exporter and third-largest producer, and the US is the second-largest exporter and fourth-largest producer, with remaining global production spread among more than 50 other countries.
Our Cotton Value Chain
Each of our business lines is integrating further across the five steps of our value chain, as we respond to the need for a traceable and responsible supply line from farmer to consumer
01Originate & Produce
01Originate & Produce
02Process & Refine
02Process & Refine
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
01Originate & Produce
01Originate & Produce
02Process & Refine
02Process & Refine
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
Our Strengths in Argentina
LDC holds a global leadership position in the cotton sector and plays a prominent role in Argentina, where it purchases, processes, markets, and transports cotton fiber to supply both domestic and international markets. Since entering the industry in 2005, it has become the country’s largest exporter and one of the top ten suppliers to national textile factories.
Its strategy is based on strong relationships with farmers and ginners, and on leveraging its logistics network. In Argentina, it operates three key industrial assets:
- A ginning plant in Quimilí (Santiago del Estero), with the capacity to process 42,000 tons annually, providing services to local producers and strengthening its international presence.
- A cotton warehouse in El Chaco, the main producing province, which facilitates supply to both domestic and international markets.
- A logistics center in Zárate (Buenos Aires), where fiber is classified and stored under controlled conditions until dispatch. This center enables container consolidation on-site—a unique advantage in Argentina’s cotton sector.
Committed to Sustainable Cotton
From sourcing certified cotton to promoting best practice within and beyond our value chain, we work proactively toward increasingly sustainable operations and supply chains, both as LDC and in collaboration with partner organizations such as Better Cotton.
With LDC representation on the board, we also continue to help promote and shape the US Cotton Trust Protocol initiative, enrolling more farmers and increasing volumes of Better Cotton purchases.