Bangladesh’s textile spinning mills, alongside international cotton industry leaders, are calling for government support to establish dedicated cotton warehousing facilities to address key challenges such as extended lead times and price fluctuations. Md. Showkat Aziz Russell, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), has been in discussions with government entities to create cotton storage warehouses capable of holding a three-month supply. These warehouses aim to reduce the lead time, currently over 90 days, and mitigate price volatility in the cotton market.
Russell, during a meeting with the Chairman of Chattogram Port, suggested utilizing idle seaport facilities for cotton storage to optimize supply chains and lower costs for textile manufacturers. He emphasized that collaboration between BTMA, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and port authorities would help streamline operations, reduce price fluctuations, and enhance the competitiveness of Bangladeshi mills.
Speaking at the ‘5th Global Cotton Summit Bangladesh 2025,’ organized by the Bangladesh Cotton Association in partnership with BTMA, Russell also expressed concern over Bangladesh’s increasing reliance on yarn imports from India, which accounted for 40% of yarn consumption in 2024. He warned that this dependency could lead to job losses in the local industry and urged the government to take action against illegal yarn imports.
Touhid Hossain, Foreign Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supported the proposal for cotton warehousing, highlighting the potential to reduce costs by 10-20% and improve supply chain efficiency. He committed to expediting the implementation of these storage solutions to boost the availability of cotton in Bangladesh and promote the sustainable growth of the textile industry.
