Brazil leads world cotton exports

With the end of the cotton month, which celebrated its world cotton day on October 7, Brazil has much to celebrate. The 2023/2024 harvest confirmed the country's position as the world's leading cotton exporter, surpassing the United States (US) – a target projected for the year 2030. Cumulative exports from January to September this year total 2,01 million tons, with a forecast of reaching 2,85 million by the end of the year. 

The Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa) estimates that the planted area for the 2024/2025 harvest will increase by 7,4%, covering 2,14 million hectares, while production is expected to grow by 8%, reaching almost 4 million tons. Even in the face of a scenario of less attractive prices, especially on the New York Stock Exchange, the expectation is that Brazil will maintain its world leadership in exports.

According to data from Abrapa's harvest report for the month of October, Brazil exported 2,6 million tons of cotton in the accumulated period from August/2024 to September/2024, totaling revenue of US$ 500,6 million and the country is expected to maintain this pace, with a forecast of 2,86 million tons exported in the 2024/2025 harvest. However, producers are aware of the need to improve their strategies to face price volatility, seeking to preserve their profit margins.

Record production in the 2023/2024 harvest

The end of this harvest also brought significant figures in terms of production. According to the National Supply Company (Conab), Brazil produced a record 3,673 million tons of cotton, driven mainly by the increase in the planted area and the replacement of crops, such as second-crop corn, with cotton. Although productivity suffered a slight drop, the increase in area offset the impact, keeping production at high levels.

For the 2024/2025 harvest, the first Conab survey indicates a planted area of ​​approximately 2 million hectares and estimated productivity of 1,83 thousand tons per hectare, which should result in a total production of 3,665 million tons, slightly lower than the current harvest.

Domestic consumption, in turn, showed a slight decline. In 2023, Brazil consumed 710 thousand tons of cotton, and for 2024 the expectation is 695 thousand tons. For 2025, consumption should stabilize at around 700 thousand tons. As a result, final stocks for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 harvests are expected to grow, reaching 2,29 and 2,40 million tons, respectively.

Amipa: 25 years of achievements for cotton farming in Minas Gerais

In Minas Gerais, the Minas Gerais Cotton Producers Association (Amipa) completed 2024 years of operation in 25, reaffirming its prominent role in strengthening increasingly sustainable cotton farming in the state. The entity has been an active voice in favor of Minas Gerais cotton farmers, promoting strategic actions that aim to improve the quality and competitiveness of cotton produced in Minas Gerais, both in the national and international markets.

“Amipa focuses on integrating Minas Gerais producers into development projects and promoting the use of the best production technologies available. In addition, we are committed to sustainability and supporting family farming in the North of Minas Gerais,” says Lício Augusto Pena de Sairre (pictured), the organization’s executive director.

Among its notable initiatives, Amipa leads pest monitoring projects, focusing on combating the cotton boll weevil, the main pest of the crop, in addition to promoting socio-environmental practices and quality certifications. The Association also has strategic units, such as the Cotton Fiber Classification Center (Minas Cotton) and a Biological Products Factory (Biofábrica), which strengthen cotton production in Minas Gerais by enabling the classification and technical analysis of the fiber produced and the biological control of pests in cotton crops.

Although Minas Gerais is the largest producer in the Southeast region and has a smaller share of national production when compared to states such as Mato Grosso and Bahia, which together account for more than 90% of the planted area, the growth of Minas Gerais cotton is due to the search for greater profitability in relation to grains, as pointed out by Lício. “With grain prices less attractive, cotton stands out as a more profitable alternative, especially because the producer knows that there is a guaranteed market for the fiber,” highlights the executive director.

Outlook for the future

Brazilian cotton continues to be consolidated as one of the main drivers of agribusiness in the country. With the increase in planted area, rising exports and the search for new technologies and sustainable practices, Brazil continues to position itself as a world leader in cotton farming. In Minas Gerais, Amipa continues to play an essential role in ensuring the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector, promoting the continued development of one of the state's most important crops.