Improve cotton, improve lives is ECOM Cotton’s vision to build a virtuous cycle that connects the team’s initiatives, innovations and improvements from the farm to the shelf.
Cotton is nature’s fiber and ECOM seeks to promote its survival. ECOM will do this by empowering and enabling everyone who grows, sources and uses cotton to make sure both it and the planet have the best chance for the future. We recognise the unique needs of everyone in the chain and meet them through initiatives that include certifications and traceability systems, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability.
Our Business
Following our establishment in 1849, we have a global presence around the world, sourcing cotton from all the major producing countries and distributing to the major importing markets, while managing risk and logistics elements associated with the cotton supply chain. We believe in meeting our suppliers and customers needs in the best way we can, sourcing all the different styles and cotton qualities available, and delivering the right quality of cotton to the right customers on time.
We have many strong and loyal clients that we deal with, and we expect to further expand our client base and market participation in the coming years. ECOM's mission connects the team’s initiatives, innovations and improvements from the farm to the shelf. We build solid relationships with reliable suppliers, agents and textile mills around the world, based on mutual reliability and trust, that result in doing healthy, repeat business and with whom we can leverage to build sustainable and traceable supply chains, end to end, from the producer to the final consumer.
With our experience, expertise and innovative mindset, ECOM is far more than just a merchant. We are a trusted partner. We’re here to make connections, find solutions and create prosperity for the people who work in, live with and love cotton.
Our History
Cotton at our roots
Starting in 1849 with Jose Esteve Thomas, Cotton is an integral part of the history of ECOM. Jose's son took over the business and travelled extensively to the cotton producing areas of the world, eventually incorporating Roosevelt & Esteve with offices in New York and Savannah in 1889.
As the supply of cotton on the Atlantic coast was more and more consumed by the local industry, part of the family would move to New Orleans and, in 1935, to Brazil. From New Orleans, the family would move again to Dallas and, in 1948, to Mexico. In 1959, the Brazilian operation ventured into coffee and would expand into a global business during the 1980s.
ECOM Cotton in figures
Years history
170+
Countries where we source cotton
13
Volume we handle, bales
2.5m+
Employees
178
Countries we sell to
36
Cotton trade offices
11
Map
List
Where we operate
Our cotton world
ECOM Cotton handles 2.7 million bales of raw cotton worldwide and has a local presence in almost all major cotton-producing markets, including the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, West Africa, China and India. We work in 13 origin countries and 36 sales destinations worldwide.
FILTER
Mexico
Agroindustrias Unidas de Mexico, SA de CV
Facts
Started in 1948
Contact us
Mexico
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+52 55 5257 6500
United states
ECOM USA, Inc
Facts
Started in 1885
Contact us
USA
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+1 214 520 1717
Brazil
Empresa Interagrícola S.A (EISA)
Facts
Started in 1935
Contact us
Brazil
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+55 11 5508 8400
Switzerland
ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd
Facts
Started in 1967
Contact us
Switzerland
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+41 58 721 7210
India
Ecom Agro India Private Limited
Facts
Started in 2007
Contact us
India
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+91 80 28450108
Côte d'ivoire
Zamacom S.A
Facts
Started in 1999
Contact us
Ivory Coast
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+225 21 25 99 06
Italy
ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd
Facts
Started in 1999
Contact us
Italy
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+39 039 5157910
Singapore
ECOM Agroindustrial Asia Pte. Ltd.
Facts
Started in 2000
Contact us
Singapore
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+65 6318-99-44
China
ECOM China Co Ltd.
Facts
Started in 1999
Contact us
China
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+86 21 6113 2399
Australia
ECOM Commodities Pty. Ltd
Facts
Started in 1999
Contact us
Australia
contactcotton@ecomtrading.com
+61 2 9223 3631
Our Products & Services
To meet the diverse needs of our farmers, mills and brands, ECOM Cotton sources and supplies all major categories of cotton
ECOM Cotton is able to provide most kinds of cotton due to our vast sourcing capabilities and regions in which we have a presence.
We also focus on specific certifications such as Better Cotton (BC), regenagri®, Responsible Brazilian Cotton program (ABR), US Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP), my Best Management Practices (myBMP), Regenerative Organic (ROC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS) and Cotton made in Africa (CMiA), amongst others.
Our high quality is backed up by cotton’s international Classification Standards. We use the High Volume Instrument (HVI) classification system, which consists of measurements for fibre length, micronaire, strength, colour, trash, and length uniformity. Besides quality standards and classifications, our portfolio includes several certifications and programmes on sustainable cotton in diverse origins.
Upland
90% of the world’s cotton production is Gossypium hirsutum, or upland cotton. It’s native to Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Upland cotton is classified through measurements for fiber length, length uniformity, fiber strength, micronaire, colour grade, trash, and leaf grade performed by precise High Volume Instruments.
Long and extra long staple (LS and ELS)
Gossypium barbadense, long or extra long staple cotton, is soft yet strong and resists pilling, wrinkling or fading. Varieties include principally US Pima Egyptian Giza.
Sustainable cotton
Creating a sustainable future for cotton is not about finding a single, one-size-fits-all solution. Our sourcing includes certifications such as organic and regenerative farming that contemplates differentiated agricultural practices and environmental, social and governance practices including water management, traceability and educational projects. We carry cotton with diverse certifications such as Better Cotton (BC), Cotton made in Africa (CMiA), regenagri, Best Management Practices (myBMP), US Trust Protocol (USTP), Brazilian Responsible Cotton (ABR), Regenerative Organic (ROC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS) amongst others.
What’s New
USDA Grant Announcement
We could not be more proud to announce that the USDA has selected and signed the ECOM USA, LLC’s grant proposal, Climate-Smart Cotton through a Sustainable and Innovative Supply Chain Approach, as part of the USDA’s Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities.
As said by Darren Long, Deputy CEO of ECOM USA, “we are excited to lead a Climate-Smart Commodities Grant program along with our partners, and look forward to connecting U.S. farmers and ginners, textile mills and brands to deliver certified sustainable, traceable cotton with data that the market needs.
This is a tremendous opportunity for farmers to be rewarded for the work they're doing to create more climate friendly cotton, and for mills and brands to help drive and showcase the improvements being made to cotton production practices and the supply chain".
Our project partners include Quarterway Cotton Growers, Earthworm Foundation, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Control Union USA, 5Loc Cotton, and more to be announced soon.
Read USDA Grant Award Announcement here
What’s New
regenagri® Certified Cotton
We’re very excited to be the first cotton trader to be certified regenagri®, an international regenerative agriculture programme. It is an initiative aimed at ensuring the health of land where cotton is grown, and providing wealth to those who inhabit it. In order to achieve this, we have worked with partners to be able to provide regenagri-certified bales.
regenagri® defines itself as a programme that “supports farms and organisations transitioning to holistic farming, increasing soil health, encouraging biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering CO2”. By supporting the programme, we are actively involved in securing the future of agriculture, its products, and their supply chains.
Read the full article
What’s New
Partnerships restoring the environment
At ECOM, we’re working with farmers, gins, brands, and other stakeholders to restore biodiversity in the soil, the crops and surrounding land.
We operate in Mexican cotton growing regions, such as Chihuahua, where we will focus our efforts for the short/medium term. Our activities focus on solutions to reduce pesticide use, water management, and soil health.
Find out more