Fiber quality and resistance draw the attention of participants in the ABRAPA 2019 Buyers Mission

Quality, resistance, uniformity and sustainability. These were some points raised by representatives of textile industries from eight countries about Mato Grosso cotton during the 2019 Buyers Mission in the state, promoted by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (ABRAPA). The mission was made up of representatives from China, Pakistan, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, India, Peru and Bangladesh. In Mato Grosso, the action was in partnership with the Mato Grosso Association of Cotton Producers (AMPA).

The mission has been carried out by ABRAPA since 2015 and aims to bring textile industries from different parts of the world to Brazil. According to the entity, since the first edition, more than 80 spinning mills from around the world have been to Brazil to learn about the Brazilian cotton production system, visit rural properties, learn about mechanized harvesting, cotton processing plants, quality programs and sustainability of Brazilian cotton, HVI analysis laboratories, as well as doing business.

Brazil in the 2018/2019 harvest ranks as the 4th largest cotton producer and 2nd largest exporter. Furthermore, the country is the largest supplier of sustainable cotton to the world.

In Mato Grosso, textile manufacturers visited farms, analysis laboratories, cotton mills, spinning mills and the Training Center of the Mato Grosso Cotton Institute (IMAmt). The visits took place in the municipalities of Sapezal, Campo Verde and Primavera do Leste.

According to the president of AMPA, Alexandre Pedro Schenkel, trade missions are always valid for exchanging information and experiences regardless of whether they take place in Brazil or in some other country. “Brazil, especially Mato Grosso, has the capacity to produce two harvests in the same area and in a sustainable way, without the need to open an inch of area. In Mato Grosso we have three points that make us efficient in production: soil, climate and people”.
Schenkel recalls that 80% of producers in Mato Grosso have been planting cotton for more than 10 years and that the use of technology in the field also helps with production.

The president of ABRAPA, Milton Garbugio, points out that crises in the world come and go. “Actions like this are important, as crises come and go and this shows how efficient we are.”

Sun Wei was one of the participants who made up the Chinese delegation. For the first time in Brazil, he comments that the company he works for every year sends a representative on ABRAPA missions. “I wanted to know more about Brazilian cotton. It's important to participate. We consider Brazilian cotton to be one of the best in the world. Our customers are increasingly looking for Brazilian cotton due to the trade war with the United States. This connection between Brazil and China is important to maintain.”

The only member from Latin America, José Omar Perez has an integrated textile industry in Peru that works from spinning to clothing. “I was impressed by the evolution of cotton production in Mato Grosso in a sustainable way and with respect for the environment. And, the size of productivity and quality too. This makes the country increasingly competitive.”

Already a customer of Brazilian cotton, Phan Duc Le Hoang has a weaving factory in Vietnam. “We already bought Brazilian cotton and were already impressed with the producer, but I wanted to know more details about him. I was impressed with the cotton gins and how clean cotton is compared to others.”

Lalit Mahajan, from India, comments that his country is returning to buying Brazilian cotton. According to him, in 2004 India had “a not very good experience with cotton from Brazil, but today it has seen the evolution and the amount of quality, productivity and technology available. The mission was productive to see this up close.”

The company Mirza MD Shorforaj Hossain owns still doesn't buy cotton produced in Brazil, but the quality seen makes him rethink. “I saw a lot of quality. We still don’t buy cotton from here and the mission is an opportunity to do that.”