Cotton
Global 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
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
01Originate & Produce
01Originate & Produce
02Process & Refine
02Process & Refine
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
Our Strengths in the US
Our US cotton business is a key contributor to LDC’s position as one of the world’s top merchandizers and exporters of cotton.
Our customer service and risk management expertise have made us a national market leader in origination, and we rely on a large network of producers, gins, local merchants and cooperatives throughout the country to source both upland and PIMA cotton.
Leveraging LDC’s global footprint, our teams of industry, logistics and marketing experts facilitate the supply of raw cotton to customers across the globe.
Thanks to trading offices around the world, our Cotton Platform is on call 24/7, and our experienced marketing team partners with customers to help manage risks and requirements through various services such as our just-in-time delivery program.
- We leverage best-in-class trading, research, risk management and logistics capabilities to navigate market shifts and provide superior service to our customers and business partners
- Our US logistics capabilities are supported by a large asset network, including 24 warehouses with capacity of +2.2 million bales, as well as two container-loading facilities
- Our vast and diverse supplier network allows us to provide all types of US cotton, including Memphis/Eastern, Texas, Far West and PIMA cotton
Our Assets
With headquarters in Cordova, Tennessee, our Cotton Platform also has merchandizing offices in Fresno, California and Lubbock, Texas.
Our US asset network supports LDC’s cotton origination and marketing activities, enabling the rapid and efficient movement of cotton from warehouses to final destinations.
Our strategic assets in the country include 24 warehouses in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, as well as two container-loading facilities in West Texas.
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.