With U.S. agreeing to export 6.39 lakh bales in the marketing year 2013-14 to Indonesia, the fifth largest importer of U.S. cotton. The 16-member Indonesian textile delegation includes 12 textile executives of major Indonesian companies to tour U.S. cotton belt. This special cotton trade mission tour has been conducted by Cotton Council International and National Cotton Council’s export promotions arm.

The tour will help the Indonesian delegation take a close look at the U.S. cotton production, processing, the advantages of using U.S. cotton and will give them an opportunity to meet the U.S. cotton exporters from four major regions of Cotton Belt and the industry organization face to face and undertake the marketing strategies too.

The Cotton USA Special Trade Mission conducted by CCI will be helping the Indonesian delegate visit the cotton research in North Carolina, tour the USDA cotton classing office in Bartlett, Tenn., and also visit a farm in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Also an ICE Futures seminar will be conducted for them.

According to CCI President Jordan Lea, a South Carolina merchant sees Indonesian spinners turning to be U.S. cotton industry’s important partner in the future as yarn spinning is moving out from China to other Southeast Asian markets and Indonesia is one of those Asian markets.

Moreover, the 12 Indonesia companies which are representing this trade mission are expected to consume collectively around 1.1 million bales of which about 4 lakh bales will be U.S. cotton.

The tour offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships with these textile manufacturers and expand future U.S. cotton purchases.