Brazil becomes world's largest cotton exporter

The 2023/2024 cotton crop, yielding over 3.7 million tons, has propelled Brazil to the position of the world's largest producer. Additionally, Brazil has officially become the world's largest cotton exporter for the first time in history, surpassing the United States. The current harvest has already seen 60 percent of its production fully sold.

The announcement was made this weekend in Comandatuba, Bahia state, by the National Association of Cotton Exporters (ANEA). The target, originally expected to be reached in 2030, has been achieved ahead of schedule.

"Leading the world in cotton lint supply is a historic milestone, but it wasn't an immediate goal. Our focus has always been on improving our processes, enhancing quality, traceability, and sustainability, and consequently boosting efficiency," said Alexandre Schenkel, president of the Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa).

Abrapa attributes the strong performance of producers to the close collaboration between them and the Brazilian textile industry. Despite intense international competition, the consumption of yarn and cotton is expected to increase from 750,000 tons to 1 million tons annually.

The association has created a network called Sou de Algodão (I'm made of cotton), which brings together clothing manufacturers, fashion universities, researchers, and cotton producers to develop high-quality end products. Approximately 84 percent of the cotton produced in Brazil is socio-environmentally certified.

Brazilian exports have also recovered due to increased demand from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, which had purchased less in the previous cycle due to financial difficulties in opening letters of credit. This upturn exceeded expectations. "We initially projected exports of 2.4 to 2.45 million tons," Schenkel noted.

China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Pakistan are among the main markets for Brazilian cotton.