Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Cotton Quality and Cotton Testing
- Actual Developments in Cotton Quality Evaluation Axel Drieling
Faserinstitut Bremen e.V. (Bremen Fibre Institute), Germany
- Laboratory of the Bremen Cotton Exchange Africa – EU Cotton Partnership
Seminar on Cotton in Africa:
Trends, Incentives and Institutions
Arusha, Tanzania, September 6 to 8
1
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
The Quality of Cotton
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
It is important to obtain reliable information about the actual quality
of cotton
– Cotton growers need the information
• to obtain an equitable price for the cotton
• to enhance cotton quality (breeding/research)
– Ginning needs the information
• To optimise the ginning process
– The trade needs the information
• to fix the price of cotton
• to satisfy the customers
– Cotton spinners need the information
• to assure a properly running process
• to achieve the required quality of yarn
• to minimize the raw material costs
2
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Manual/Visual Classing
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• Manual Classing is a common method for
estimating the quality of cotton
• Manual Classing is the actual basis for trading
cotton
• But Manual Classing is commonly rated
– not to be sufficiently objective
– not to be sufficiently reliable / precise
• Global cotton trading is more and
more accepting and demanding
instrument test results
• Cotton spinning requires
instrument test results, not
Manual Classing results
3
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Instrument Testing
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• High Volume Testing
– Limited number of
parameters
– High speed testing,
capable for testing every
single bale
– High Volume Instruments
(HVI) from various
manufacturers
4
• Low Volume Testing /
Detailed Testing
– Many different instruments
and parameters for all kinds
of properties
– Detailed information for e.g.
spinning purposes
– High time effort and costs,
not capable for testing every
single bale
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Perspective
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
The worldwide accepted and demanded way for the
evaluation of cotton quality is inevitably moving towards
High Volume Instrument testing
– Classing of the cotton production is shifting from manual classing
to instrument testing (globally 30% of all produced bales,
increasing to more than 60% in the next 5 years [ICAC])
– Spinning mills are using HVI results regularly
– Research is using HVI results regularly
– Trade is moving towards HVI results to fulfil customers demands
5
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
ICAC CSITC Task Force
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Under the auspices of ICAC, the Task Force for
Commercial Standardization of Instrument
Testing of Cotton – CSITC
was formed to solve existing problems for the global
commercial use of instrument cotton testing
•Formed in December 2003
•15 international members:
– Cotton exporters
– Importers
– Testing
– All segments of the world cotton industry
– Research
6
CSITC
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
ICAC CSITC Task Force: Objectives
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• To establish a worldwide acceptable, adoptable and reliable
instrument based cotton quality assessment for commercial
purposes
• To ensure and improve the reliability of High Volume Testing for
commercial purposes
 Standardization
 Harmonisation
• To assist developing countries to meet the requirements of
standardized and harmonized instrument testing, so that they are
not at a disadvantage
• To encourage the trading of cotton based on instrument data
7
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
CFC/EU – ICAC Project
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Based on the recommendations of the CSITC Task Force, and to facilitate the
work that is necessary to fulfil the CSITC objectives, a project was created:
Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton for the
Cotton Producing Developing Countries in Africa
8
– Project Executing Agency: Faserinstitut Bremen (Bremen Fibre Institute)
– Project Partners:
• CIRAD (France)
• East Africa: TBS (Tanzania) and TCB (Tanzania)
• West Africa: Cerfitex (Mali) and Sofitex (Burkina Faso)
– Supervisory Body: International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
– Financing: Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) – 2.03 Mio USD
– Co-Financing: European Commission (as part of its EC –ACP Agricultural
Commodities Programme) – 3 Mio USD (2.4 Mio EUR)
– External Contribution: e.g. USDA, Bremen Cotton Exchange,
Uster, Premier
– Project Duration: 4 years; start expected for October 2007
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
CFC/EU ICAC Project
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• This project will provide the financial basis for the topics
and activities that I will explain in this presentation
– Global objectives and activities for the commercial
standardization of Instrument Testing (Standardization,
Harmonization)
– Core of the project:
Specific objectives and activities for Instrument Testing
in Africa, for the benefit of the African cotton production
9
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
a) Standardization of High Volume Testing
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Standardization is necessary to have one common language that is
understood by all
–
–
–
–
CSITC Task Force agreed on the Standard Test Method and the Calibration Material
Within the project, guidelines for HVI testing from different sides will be combined
But there is no restriction to a single instrument manufacturer
CSITC Task Force agreed to choose 6 parameters which are sufficiently reliable,
and fixed the valid definition and calibration
•
•
•
•
Micronaire (including fineness and maturity)
Strength
Length, Length Uniformity
Colour: Reflectance Rd, Yellowness +b
– Other important properties/parameters which are less reliable at this stage, are not
included, but improvements are requested
– CSITC Task Force developed recommendations for sampling
10
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Standardization of High Volume Testing: Colour
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
•
Colour results
– Reflectance –
quantitative number, measured in Rd
– Yellowness –
quantitative number, measured in +b
 For all cottons, the same colour is measured
with the same results
•
•
Country/region specific Colour Grades,
which respect origin specific information,
can easily be calculated based on the
standardized instrument results (Rd and +b)
Every country/region can use its own colour
grade – if necessary
11
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
b) Harmonization of High Volume Testing
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Harmonization means to care
for the same results in different laboratories
on the same samples
– For every laboratory it is important to check regularly,
if there is a difference between its results
and the results of other laboratories
 This can be done with Round Trials (like Bremen or USDA)
– For laboratories it is additionally useful to get more detailed information about
possible reasons for any deviations
 It is possible to check this in a specifically adapted Round Trial
– For all users of instrument test results, it is essential to know about the accuracy
and precision of the utilized instruments and methods
 This can be achieved with Round Trials (partially with Bremen or USDA RTs)
– For all users of instrument test results, it is helpful to know about the reliability of
cotton testing laboratories and their test results
 It is possible to check this in a specifically adapted Round Trial
12
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Harmonization: CSITC Round Trial
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• Other round trials like the Bremen Cotton Round Trial or the USDA
HVI Checktest are useful, but do not fulfil all requirements of CSITC
• A specific CSITC Round Trial was established to fulfil all necessities
of harmonization for High Volume Testing
• Aims:
– Evaluation of the test method / test result variability
– Comparison of the results between laboratories
– New: Evaluation/rating of the participating laboratories
– New: Detailed analysis of laboratories to achieve more accurate
results
13
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
CSITC Round Trial – Configuration
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
For the purposes of CSITC Round Trial, very intense testing is necessary:
• 4 Round Trials per year with each 5 different cotton samples,
• 150 tests for each laboratory / 30 tests for each cotton
• all single data is evaluated (900 results for each laboratory)
Cotton 1
Cotton 2
Cotton 3
Cotton 4
Cotton 5
day 1
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
day 2
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
day 3
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
day 4
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
day 5
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
6 tests
Sub Total
30 tests
30 tests
30 tests
30 tests
30 tests
Total
150 tests for each Round Trial
Cotton 1 to cotton 4 are used to evaluate laboratories reliably
Cotton 5 offers the chance to include cottons with different behaviour / from different origins
14
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
CSITC Round Trial – Variability Information
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Length based on single values
n=2220 minus outliers according to Grubbs
600
500
400
300
200
100
1,19
1,18
1,17
1,16
1,15
1,14
1,13
1,12
1,11
1,1
1,09
0
1,08
"For all users of instrument test results, it is
essential to know about the accuracy and
precision of the utilized instruments and
methods"
– Detailed information about inter-laboratory
variation
– Detailed information about in-laboratory
variation (new)
No of Labs x No of Tests
•
Length, inch
CSITC Round Trial 2007-2: Length Variability
Average of Laboratories (Grubbs)
Number Of Laboratories
Interlab. Variation
Typical In-Lab. Variation (Median)
15
SD
based on 30 tests
CV %
SD
based on 6 tests
CV %
SD
based on single tests CV %
between different days SD
with each 6 tests
CV %
between single tests SD
on one day
CV %
SD
between all tests
CV %
on different days
Cotton 1 Cotton 2 Cotton 3 Cotton 4
Average
Cotton 5
1,0623
0,9732
1,1478
1,1351
1,1760
74
74
74
74
74
74
0,0104
0,0131
0,0119
0,0128
0,0120
0,0152
1,0
1,3
1,0
1,1
1,1
1,3
0,0125
0,0144
0,0126
0,0128
0,0131
0,0177
1,2
1,5
1,1
1,1
1,2
1,5
0,0159
0,0170
0,0167
0,0165
0,0165
0,0237
1,5
1,7
1,5
1,5
1,5
2,0
0,0060
0,0069
0,0059
0,0058
0,0062
0,0095
0,6
0,7
0,5
0,5
0,6
0,8
0,0088
0,0102
0,0103
0,0100
0,0098
0,0158
0,8
1,0
0,9
0,9
0,9
1,3
0,0101A. Drieling,
0,0116
0,0118and Testing,
0,0114
Cotton Quality
Arusha 0,0112 2007 0,0181
/ 09
0,9
1,2
1,0
1,0
1,0
1,5
CSITC Round Trial – Comparison of Results
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
"For every laboratory it is important to check regularly, if there is a difference between its
results and the results of other laboratories"
Performance of Laboratory 72001-1
Reference Values
Cotton 1
Cotton 2
Cotton 3
Cotton 4
Cotton 5
Micronaire
2,511
4,086
4,351
4,427
4,605
Laboratory Average of All Days
Cotton 1
Cotton 2
Cotton 3
Cotton 4
Cotton 5
2,473
4,053
4,347
4,353
4,543
23,353
20,257
30,553
25,220
30,783
1,0397
0,9417
1,1313
1,1140
1,1563
78,977
76,017
81,137
81,773
84,233
72,207
74,713
78,423
77,763
79,077
14,403
12,347
10,273
12,137
8,077
Rel. Distance to Reference
Cotton 1
Cotton 2
Cotton 3
Cotton 4
Cotton 5
-0,038
-0,032
-0,005
-0,073
-0,061
-1,881
-2,188
-1,843
-1,924
-0,622
-0,0227
-0,0315
-0,0165
-0,0211
-0,0197
-2,006
-3,024
-1,003
-0,964
-0,100
-0,464
-0,280
0,656
-0,064
-0,830
-0,114
-0,072
0,001
0,051
-0,248
0,037
1,959
0,0230
1,749
0,366
0,059
Scale Factor
Summary Evaluation for Each Property
0,10
0,37
1,50
1,31
0,02
1,15
1,00
1,75
1,50
0,24
0,50
0,12
Relevance of Property
1,00
1,00
1,00
1,00
1,00
1,00
Mean Absolute Distance to Reference (Cotton 1 - 4 only)
Summary Evaluation of All Properties
16
Strength
25,234
22,445
32,396
27,144
31,405
Length
1,0623
0,9732
1,1478
1,1351
1,1760
Uniformity
80,982
79,041
82,139
82,737
84,333
Color Rd
72,671
74,994
77,767
77,827
79,907
Color +b
14,517
12,418
10,272
12,086
8,324
0,82
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
CSITC Round Trial – Evaluation/Rating of Labs
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
"For all users of instrument test results, it is helpful to know about
the reliability of cotton testing laboratories and their test results"
Your Evaluation
17
Lab.
No.
72001-1
Lab.
No.
72007-1
72024-3
72020-1
72025-3
72054-1
72051-2
72041-1
72060-1
72039-3
72003-1
72023-2
72039-2
72008-1
72004-1
72022-2
72018-1
72001-1
72040-1
72023-1
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and72013-1
Testing, Arusha
72019-2
Information for customers.
This can e.g. be used
for lab sales promotion.
Evaluation
Combined Prop.
0,82
Evaluation
Combined Prop.
0,24
0,30
0,34
0,37
0,38
0,41
0,43
0,45
0,47
0,48
0,51
0,54
0,58
0,64
0,70
0,75
0,82
0,84
0,92
1,25/ 09
2007
2,15
CSITC Round Trial – Detailed Analysis
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
"For laboratories it is additionally useful to get more detailed information about
possible reasons for any deviations"
Laboratory 72001-1: Length
0,03
0,02
0,01
Cotton 1 - 4
Single Days
Cotton 5
Trend (Cotton 1 - 4)
1,16
1,11
1,06
-0,01
1,01
0
0,96
– Detailed analysis of
accuracy problems
– Analysis of precision/
variability problems
Deviation from Reference, inch
•
-0,02
-0,03
-0,04
-0,05
Reference Value, inch
R2 = 0,9145
Color Rd
Typical In-Lab. Variation (Median)
In-Lab. Variation (Your Lab.)
18
between different days with each 6 tests
between single tests on one day
between all tests on different days
between different days with each 6 tests
between single tests on one day
between all tests on different days
SD
SD
SD
SD
SD
SD
Cotton 1
0,285
0,271
0,394
0,598
0,652
0,840
Cotton 2
0,248
0,249
0,340
0,449
0,693
0,806
Cotton 3
0,254
0,268
0,362
0,137
0,634
0,632
Cotton 4
0,237
0,256
0,333
0,541
0,896
0,983
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
Average Cotton 5
0,256
0,395
0,261
0,417
0,357
0,598
0,431
0,410
0,719
0,889
0,815
0,928
2007 / 09
CSITC Round Trial – Conclusion
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
•
The CSITC Round Trial is based on the recommendations and aim of the
CSITC Task Force
•
The Round Trial is the most important and powerful step towards harmonized and
reliable test results
•
It was developed in co-operation between the Bremen Fibre Institute and USDAAMS, and is regularly conducted by these partners
•
It is headed by the ICAC as an independent organization
•
The regular Round Trial started in January 2007
•
Every laboratory is invited to participate to a subsidized fee of
75 USD per Round Trial / 300 USD per year
•
For registration, please contact the ICAC or give me a notice
– www.icac.org
– [email protected]
19
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
c) Africa-Specific Objective and Project Activities
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• The aim is to assist developing countries to meet the requirements of
standardized and harmonized instrument testing, so that they are not
at a disadvantage
• This is the core of the project funded by the Common Fund for
Commodities and the European Commission
 It is not sufficient to check cotton testing laboratories in Africa, but to
support them to be able to produce reliable test results.
 Support will be given within the regions.
 The support will be done mainly by the establishment of Regional
Technical Centres (RTCs) in the most important cotton producing
regions.
20
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Benefits for Cotton Producing Developing Countries
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• High Volume Testing will enable cotton producing
developing countries to sell their cotton based on reliable
and comparable test results
– Avoid price discounts due to unknown properties
– Avoid claims
– Secure/improve their market share
– Use of the test results in the whole textile value added chain
– Monetary benefit regarding higher achievable prices:
approx. 3 US-ct/kg
21
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• Regional Technical Centres will mainly cover the following activities:
– Reference activities
• Re-tests
• Regional round trials
– Provision of information
•
•
•
•
Training
Experience and expertise
Technical information
Regional cooperation
– Routine testing of the regional cotton production where it is
demanded
• Additionally there will be direct monetary support to existing
laboratories to enhance their testing environment
22
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
ICAC
CSITC Task Force recommendations
CFC international project partners
Faserinstitut Bremen; CIRAD
International project partners
(Other regions)
Africa
Regional centres
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
23
West Africa East AfricaA. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
a) Training, Support, Expertise for RTCs
CSITC recommendations / knowledges / skills
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Other areas in the World
RTC-West
24
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
b) Regional Training and Regional Round Trials
CSITC recommendations / knowledges / skills
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
RTC-West
25
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
c) International CSITC Round Trials
CSITC round test samples and results
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
RTC-West
26
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
d) Re-Tests on tested samples
CSITC recommendations
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
RTC-West
27
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
e) Audits and Expertise
CSITC recommendations
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
RTC-West
28
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
f) Compatibility with ISO Accreditation
National ISO
Certification /
Accreditation
Bodies
International project partners
FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB
Africa
Regional Technical
Centres (RTC)
Cerfitex
TBS
with Sofitex
with TCB
Individual Laboratories
RTC-West
29
RTC-East
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Choice of Regions
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
Countries to be directly
supported in West Africa
Benin
Burkina Faso
Ivory Coast
Mali
Senegal
Togo
174,000
263,000
145,000
241,000
18,000
75,000
Countries to be directly
supported in East /
Southern Africa
Tanzania
Mozambique
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
100,000
26,000
41,000
75,000
75,000
Countries with indirect
support
Cameroon
Chad
Egypt
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Sudan
124,000
80,000
292,000
23,000
95,000
114,000
Cotton fibre production in tons in 2004-2005 (ICAC, September 2005),
only countries with more than 10,000 tons of cotton production in season 2004/2005 are mentioned in this table
30
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Africa-Specific Activities: Choice of Regions and Partners
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
RTC West:
West and
Central
Africa:
CERFITEX
with
SOFITEX
Location of RTC
Full support from RTC
RTC East:
East and Southern
Africa:
TBS with TCB
Other type of support from RTC
The Regional Technical Centres are planned to be financial sustainable at the end of the project,
so that their support to the laboratories will continue.
31
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
d) Encourage Trading of Cotton Based on Instrument Data
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
• Up to now trading rules and contracts do mainly contain:
– Manual classing results
– Micronaire results
– Partially strength results: Pressley or HVI
• Customers are demanding instrument test results
• CSITC Task Force is encouraging trading of cotton based
on instrument data by e.g. showing the reliability of the
results
• CSITC Task Force is supporting the introduction of
instrument test results in trading rules / arbitration rules
32
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09
Summary
Lab of the Bremen Cotton Exchange
In this presentation I tried to explain
– Manual classing in comparison to High Volume Instrument Testing,
the advantages, and the perspective towards Instrument Testing
– The ICAC CSITC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of
Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) and its objectives
– The related project funded by the Common Fund for Commodities
(CFC) and the European Commission
– The necessity and steps of testing standardization
– The necessity and steps of testing harmonization
Thank you
very much
for your
attention!
– The CSITC Round Trial as the major step for harmonization
– The Africa specific project activities including the Regional
Technical Centres that will be established
– Trading based on instrument test results
33
A. Drieling, Cotton Quality and Testing, Arusha
2007 / 09