Brazil sets historic record for cotton shipments in March.

Brazil exported 347,8 tons of raw cotton in March, the highest volume ever recorded for the month. The result, representing a 45,4% increase in volume and a 33,6% increase in revenue compared to March 2025, when exports totaled US$530,1 million, is surprising in its magnitude and timing: historically, March is not a peak month for Brazilian shipments. The data was released on April 7th by the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), and analyzed by the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea).

“Record shipments in March dismantle the old myth that Brazil's shipping capacity is limited to September to December. At the end of the third quarter, we reached 350 tons of exported cotton, which is very positive for the country,” says the president of Anea, Dawid Wajs. According to him, the result also represents a clear recovery after the more subdued performance in February, when rains in producing regions hampered logistics. “These results demonstrate our strong recovery now in March,” he says.

In the accumulated period from July to March, Brazil is approximately 150 tons ahead of the volume recorded in the same period of the previous harvest. Cotton ranked 3rd in agricultural exports, with a 6,42% share, and 12th in the overall ranking of the country's exports (1,68%).

Markets resist barriers and increase purchases from Brazil.

One of the most notable aspects of the March results is the performance of Brazilian cotton in markets that initially presented obstacles. India, which ended its special import tariff regime in December, maintained significant purchase volumes. “The position of India is surprising; even without the import exemption, they are buying a considerable amount of cotton from Brazil. This shows that our cotton has established a presence in the Indian industry, and that we are effectively conquering new markets,” assesses Wajs. India accounted for 11,9% of the month's exports.

China, which recently opened an import quota of 300 tons, remained a strong trading partner, accounting for 29,5% of shipments in March. "China continues to be a strong partner, responsible for basically a third of Brazil's exports in the 2026 harvest," highlights the president of Anea.

Bangladesh, identified as the world's largest cotton importer, maintained a significant presence, absorbing 16% of Brazilian shipments in March and was the second largest destination for cotton exports that month.

Destinations

The main destinations for Brazilian cotton exports in March were:

• China (29,5%)

• Bangladesh (16%)

• India (11,9%)

• Vietnam (11,3%)

• Türkiye (10,8%)

• Pakistan (7,8%)

• Indonesia (6,5%)

• Malaysia (2,5%)

• Egypt (2,5%)

• South Korea (0,7%)

• Mauricio (0,3%)

• Algeria (0,3%)

• Thailand (0,2%)

• Japan (0,1%)

Brazil is navigating well in the global arena.

Amid the turbulence of international trade, with tariff adjustments, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainties in global trade agreements, Anea assesses that Brazil remains well-positioned. "Once again, in this whirlwind of global tariffs and trade treaties, Brazil is doing well because, despite not having agreements with anyone, we also don't fight," Wajs points out.

 "With the growth of the harvest, it is essential to enter more markets and expand the range of destinations," concludes the president of Anea.