Window for cotton planting begins with good expectations

The cotton planting window for the 2019/2020 harvest begins at the end of this month with producers eyeing the recovery in commodity prices. After two years of records, the president of the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa), Milton Garbugio, says he expects a good harvest in 2020 but highlights that the strong growth in 2019, which reached 28%, means that the increase in production in 2020 will not be so pronounced.

“We are still at the beginning. There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge. Let's see if price conditions are going well. If prices increase, then the planted area may increase. But expectations are good”, says Garbugio.

According to the latest survey by Conab (National Supply Company), the projection is for growth both in area, reaching more than 1,6 million hectares, and in the total expected volume, which could reach 2,7 million tons of feather.

The producer continues to bet on external demand for Brazilian plume. According to Garbugio, Brazilian domestic demand has remained below 800 million tons for years, and exports are the producers' biggest bet, expected to reach around 2 million tons this year.

According to Garbugio, Mato Grosso continues to be the main cotton producing state in the country, with around 70% of national production. Next come Bahia and Goiás.