About Us

60 years growing together

At the forefront of cotton since 1962

Back in the early 1960s, a group of pioneering cotton growers met in a public meeting. The idea of a commercial cotton enterprise was floated — a grower cooperative that would afford growers more control over how their cotton was processed and marketed. We’ve been leading the cotton industry ever since.

Namoi Cotton started with relationships and it's carried by them today

We started as a cooperative that knew we could do more together. Since then, nothing’s changed, really. Our 60 years in cotton have seen us go from 98 bales in a year to 1.6 million bales — but relationships are still at the heart of what we do.

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It's our vision to be Australia's leading cotton agribusiness

More than just a cotton ginner

While ginning is at the core of what we do, we’re so much more than a ginner. Namoi Cotton spans fibre, feed, supply chain, and marketing. It’s how we strive further in our vision each and every day. We’re the link between Australia’s independent cotton growers and the cotton market globally. It’s our integrated cotton gins and warehouses, which employ more than 150 people, and our marketing ventures, which put us at the forefront of the industry.

2017 saw a corporate restructure in Namoi Cotton

After 55 years of operating as our grower-owned cooperative, Namoi Cotton underwent a corporate restructure. This allowed us to become Namoi Cotton Limited, a fully ASX-listed public company.

It's our values that lead how we engage with our team, growers & investors

Our commitment and purpose are demonstrated through our values. These guide Namoi Cotton, from our board, down through our senior executives, and through to our on-the-floor ginning teams. Our values inform how we operate as individuals and as a business, no matter the challenge.

The industry leader that's aligned with Australia's cotton growers

Operated by our experienced and dedicated staff who are based within these rural communities, our team is aligned with the needs of Australia’s cotton growers.

It’s why we’ve developed such massive efficiencies in how we process cotton, our ginning technology, the research and development that underpins how we service growers, and our in-house servicing teams.

Our reputation even travels overseas, where we’re highly regarded for our provision of high-quality Australian cotton.

60 years of unforgettable milestones

Namoi Cotton is built on a rich history of accelerating the cotton industry. We’re proud of our impact

1962

At a public meeting in Wee Waa on the 30th October, 1962, a small but determined group of growers and excited townspeople met to discuss the concept of a commercial cotton enterprise in the Lower Namoi Valley. The idea of a growers co-operative was widely applauded, and Namoi Cotton Co-operative Limited was incorporated as a Rural Society under the State Co-operative Act on 1st November, 1962. Paul Kahl was one of the founding members of Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd, and he was the first Chairman elected to the Board.

1963

The first bale was ginned at the new Namoi gin at Wee Waa in May 1963. The Wee Waa Gin was officially opened by the NSW Premier, Mr J B Renshaw. The State Member for Barwon, Mr Geoff Crawford, left, is pictured with Co-operative chairman, Paul Kahl.
The new gin processed 1,413 bales from 433 ha.

1966

Myall Vale and Merah North Gins were opened by NSW Premier Sir Robert Askin.
Ben Dawson took the helm of the Board of Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd in 1966, following in the footsteps of Paul Kahl.
1966 was a notable year in that it was the first full year that the co-operative had employed the services of a Full-time General Manager. John Howes was appointed to take the previously direct management responsibility away from the Board members.

1967

The first exports of co-operative cotton commenced in 1967–68. By 1968–69, exports totalled more than 22,000 bales.
Growers attended a meeting to form a body that would provide pure seed for planting to growers and maintain quality breeding standards. This body was called Cotton Seed Distributors (CSD). Namoi Cotton was in full support of this initiative, and along with Auscott, agreed to underwrite the company.

1971

An important outcome of the severe flooding of the 70s was the establishment of flood mitigation levees that protect cotton growing areas.
The industry was dealt a severe blow with the 1971 floods, with crops being decimated. Flood waters remained in Wee Waa for 21 days and in the outlying areas even longer. In the wake of this disaster, Namoi Cotton fought for, and, negotiated financial assistance for its growers to assist them in the recovery from this disaster. Only 20,000 bales were harvested during this season. Production from the co-op gins rebounded in 1972, reaching 97,712 bales from an area of 17,000 hectares.

1972

Production from Namoi gins totalled 97,712 bales from an area of 17,000 ha.
In the following 10 years, the co-operative and the industry faced a host of problems: flooding, insects, adverse currency movements and the removal of the cotton bounty price support system. The stability offered by the co-operative provided the necessary platform for the industry’s future.

1973

Lower Namoi Valley cotton was sent to China. Negotiations for the sale of 16,000 bales of cotton were completed after General Manager, John Howes and representatives of China National Textile Import & Export Corporations concluded their discussions. The contract was worth $2.3 million. It was the first major sale of Australian cotton to China.

1978

Namoi Cotton went on to address the recurring problem of hail damage, and with the help of Namoi Cotton’s insurance brokers, a hail insurance scheme was launched. With other interested parties, Namoi Cotton formed a pesticide committee to co-ordinate the aerial application of pesticides.
Another innovation in the 70s was the introduction of machinery loans to members who had survived the flood years and desperately needed to re-equip with the latest cultivation and picking machinery.

1979

Namoi Cotton also acknowledged the need for ginning facilities in the Gwydir Valley as the industry gained expansion momentum in neighbouring river valleys, and a site was chosen at Ashley. The original gin at Wee Waa was moved, and this became the first gin in the Gwydir Valley, officially opened in 1979 by the NSW Treasurer, Hon. J.B. Renshaw, AC, MP.

1980

A $1.2 million rail siding and container loading facility was built at Wee Waa to handle cotton for the growing export trade out of Wee Waa. This facility was instrumental in providing the platform for step growth in Australian cotton exported to world markets. In 1979-1980, the cotton export number reached 125,000 bales from a total production of approximately 170,000 bales.

1986

Continued growth resulted in the construction of a warehouse and container shipping complex at the MacIntyre site
Construction of a classing facility at Wee Waa was undertaken and included the installation of HVI equipment
6 extra sheds were constructed at the Wee Waa Warehouse site

1988

Ron C Swansbra became the third Chairman of the Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd Board
Wathagar Gin, west of Moree was built by Namoi Cotton
Mr Alan Rimmer replaced Mr John Howes as CEO of Namoi Cotton.

1989

William B Findley became the fourth Chairman of the Board for Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd
May of 1989 saw a Corporate Office established in Sydney by the co-operative, becoming Namoi Cotton’s first office outside of Wee Waa. The office slowly grew to include the Export Sales and Documentation, Accounts, Finance & Treasury departments

1991

Namoi Cotton took on their first scholarship student, Jeremy Callachor. Jeremy was chosen because of his academic attainments as well as his community involvement.
A second gin at MacIntyre was built.
The Australian Cotton industry was the first rural industry to undertake an environmental audit.

1992

David Turner became the sixth Chairman of the Board for Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd
Mungindi Gin was opened.
Namoi Cotton Co-op Ltd celebrates its 30th Anniversary and launches a new logo.

1999

10 millionth bale was ginned at Ashley Gin.
Trangie Gin was built and opened.
In 1999, Namoi Cotton acquired Cotton Trading Corporation (CTC). This acquisition resulted in Namoi Cotton becoming the largest marketer of Australian cotton in the industry.
Namoi Cotton also added to its ginning network capacity this year with the acquisition of the Carinda Cotton Gin and commenced construction on the Hillston Gin to further expand its ginning network.
In the 1999 season, Namoi Cotton ginned a then-record of 861,212 bales.

2001

Acquired six cottonseed storage sheds located adjacent to a number of our gin sites, providing a strategic marketing advantage enabling access to containerised seed markets.

2002

Namoi Cotton celebrated 40 years.
National Winner of the NCSA/Telstra Award for Excellence in Occupational Health and Safety.
2002 NSCA/Telstra National Safety Award of Excellence for ‘Best Company-Wide Occupational Health and Safety Training Programs’.
In February 2002, Namoi Cotton and the Twynam Agricultural Group entered into a joint venture to operate ginning facilities in the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee Valleys. The joint venture was known as the Australian Cotton Ginning Company and operated the Hillston Gin.

2003

In January 2003, the independent classing company known as Australian Classing Services (ACS) was established as a joint venture between Namoi Cotton and the Twynam Agricultural Group. ACS provides classing services to the Australian Cotton Industry
In February 2003, Namoi Cotton and Australian Food and Fibre Ltd entered into a joint venture to operate ginning facilities in the Ashley region near Moree. The joint venture was known as Ashley Ginning Services (AGS) and operated the Ashley Gin
Namoi Cotton opened their office in Jakarta
The Corporate Office in Sydney was also relocated and consolidated to Toowoomba

2004

In February 2004, Namoi Cotton and Sundown Pastoral Co Pty Ltd entered into a joint venture to operate ginning facilities in the Gwydir region. The joint venture is known as the Wathagar Ginning Company (WGC) and operates the Wathagar Gin.
In June 2004, Robert Bell became the CEO of Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd.

2005

In July 2005, Queensland Cotton Holdings launched a takeover approach for Namoi Cotton. The bid of $109 million was unanimously rejected by the Board. The Board felt that the offer significantly undervalued Namoi Cotton’s position as one of the leaders in the Australian Cotton industry while also reducing competition and grower participation in the Australian industry.

2006

Queensland Cotton formally withdrew its takeover bid for Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd.
Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd wins NSW Premiers Asian Exporter of the Year Award 2005/06.
In 2006, Namoi Cotton established a further ginning joint venture at Moomin with PJ Harris & Sons and K Harris, known as Moomin Ginning Company (MGC).

2008

In 2008, the Australian industry experienced the worst of the drought conditions, with a national crop of only 600,000 bales. Namoi Cotton ginned 178,000 bales during 2008, with six of its gins not operating to any extent. Marketing volumes for the 2008 season totalled only 244,000 bales.
In the second half of 2008, Namoi Cotton commenced the development of its soon-to-be patented industry-leading round module handling technology.

2010

Namoi Cotton established its second grain storage and handling operation at its Wee Waa site in NSW
CEO – Bob Bell passed away
Jeremy Callachor was announced as CEO

2011

In 2011, Australian cotton production reached a then-record 4.1 million bales, of which Namoi Cotton ginned a record 1.258 million bales, with several gins running until November 2011.
Namoi Cotton Sites were hit with floods, including their Corporate Office in Toowoomba and their Moomin Gin site.

2012

Namoi Cotton proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
Following a period of unprecedented cotton market price volatility from late 2010 through 2012, Namoi Cotton recorded a net loss after tax and rebate of $67.5m for the full year ended February 2012.

2013

Namoi Cotton completes a cotton marketing and commodities packing Joint Venture with Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group to form Namoi Cotton Alliance (NCA).
Our patented, automated round module handling technology seamlessly processed 80% of ginning bales in round module form.
Mr Robert Green joined the Namoi Cotton Board in May 2013.

2014

Namoi Cotton refinanced with CBA following a 50-plus-year partnership with ANZ.
Namoi Cotton buys Twynam Agricultural Group out of Hillston Gin Facility.

2017

Namoi Cotton Co-operative Ltd becomes a fully listed public company on the ASX known as Namoi Cotton Limited.
Merah North gin yard doubled its static storage capacity, and its hydraulic press system was upgraded.
Boggabri Gin received a fourth gin stand and associated line of cleaning and processing equipment.
North Bourke Gin received a third gin stand and associated line of cleaning and processing equipment.
Ashley Gin installed a new gin stand and associated Australian industry-first cleaning equipment.

2018

In January 2018, Ben Coulton retires from the Namoi Cotton Limited Board, having been a Board Member since 2006.
In April 2018, Mick Boyce retires from the Namoi Cotton Limited Board, having been a Board Member since 2006.
In June 2018, James Jackson is appointed to fill a casual director vacancy on the Board of Namoi Cotton Limited as a Non-Executive Director.
In June 2018, Juanita Hamparsum is appointed to fill a casual director vacancy on the Board of Namoi Cotton Limited as a Non-Executive (Grower) Director.
In June 2018, Joseph Di Leo is appointed to fill an additional Non-Executive Director vacancy on the Board of Namoi Cotton Limited.
In August 2018, Stuart Boydell resigns from his position as Chairman of Namoi Cotton Limited.
In August 2018, Tim Watson is appointed, Chairman of Namoi Cotton Limited.

2019

In March 2019, after being with the company for 26 years, Jeremy Callachor resigns from the CEO position. Stuart Greenwood, CFO, is announced as the Interim Acting CEO.
In July 2019, long-serving Director, Richard Anderson announced that he will be retiring as of 30 July 2019.
Michael Renehan is appointed as the new CEO. The 1st September 2019 was his commencement date.
Bailey Garcha, Company Secretary, resigned in November 2019.
Namoi Cotton welcomed Andrew Metcalfe (CPA, FGIA, FCSA, GAICD) in November 2019 as the new Company Secretary.
December 2019 saw The Board of Namoi Cotton Limited announce a modernisation restructure. The restructuring places relatively more grower-facing staff in the regional centres where the company does business.
In December 2019, CFO Stuart Greenwood resigned. The Group Financial Controller, Mike Newbury, was appointed to the role of interim CFO.

2020

January 20 saw the Namoi Cotton Board announce the resignation of Stuart Boydell. Mr Boydell had been a long-serving grower representative Director of the Company.
June 2020 – Ian Wilton was appointed to the Namoi Cotton Board.

2021

Namoi Cotton Limited and Louis Dreyfus’ joint venture marketing, packing and warehousing (NCA) was split into a second partnership — Namoi Cotton Marketing Alliance (NCMA). NCMA will undertake the trading and marketing of cotton lint.
February 2021 saw CEO Michael Renehan leave to pursue other opportunities – CFO John Stevenson was appointed as Interim CEO.
In June 2021, John Stevenson was appointed as CEO.
Namoi Cotton introduced our four core values to demonstrate our commitment and purpose as an organisation:
- Safety;
- Teamwork;
- Integrity; and
- Excellence.

2022

In January 2022, Sonya Ryan was appointed as CFO.
Namoi Cotton celebrates its 60-year anniversary in 2022.
Namoi Cotton enters an agreement with the Kimberly Cotton Company to build and operate a new gin in Kununurra.
James Davies is appointed as a Non-executive Board Director.

2023

A $2.4 million upgrade is made to Trangie gin.
Sarah Scales is appointed as a Non-executive Board Director.
Namoi Cotton releases its first sustainability report.

60 years growing with Australia.

Namoi Cotton is Australia’s largest cotton ginning organisation. We’re proud of our 60 years growing with Australia.

Namoi Cotton has received conditional off-market takeover offers | Learn More →

About Us

At the forefront of cotton since 1962

Namoi Cotton started with relationships and it's carried by them today

It's our vision to be Australia's leading cotton agribusiness

More than just a cotton ginner

10 cotton gins

90k MTs of shed storage

3 warehouse facilities

275k MTs of grain packing capacity

2017 saw a corporate restructure in Namoi Cotton

It's our values that lead how we engage with our team, growers & investors​

Safety

Teamwork

Integrity

Excellence