Brazil Sets Cotton Export Record With 2.83 Million Tonnes Of Exports In 2024/25 Season
Brazil closed the 2024/25 marketing year (August–July) with record cotton exports of 2.83 million tonnes of lint, a 5.8% increase over the previous season, reaffirming its position as the world’s leading cotton exporter, according to the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa). Export revenues totaled US $4.85 billion.
The top three destinations Vietnam, Pakistan and China, together imported 1.48 million tonnes, representing 52% of Brazil’s total shipments. Vietnam led the ranking with 532,490 tonnes, followed closely by Pakistan (494,114 tonnes) and China (458,905 tonnes).
Despite the record annual performance, July 2025 shipments fell sharply. Brazil exported 127,000 tonnes in July, down 24% year-on-year, generating US$ 205 million. Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam were the largest buyers in that month, accounting for nearly half of total exports.
On the production side, Brazil’s 2025 cotton crop is projected at 3.96 million tonnes, up 7% from 2024, with planting area estimated at 2.14 million hectares (+10.3%). However, average yields are expected to dip 2.9% year-on-year to 1,849 kg/ha.
Domestically, the Cepea/Esalq indicator fell 3.3% in July to 73.81 US cents per pound, while ICE futures eased 1.1%. Over the past 12 months, Brazilian cotton prices have edged up 2.5%.
Meanwhile, Abrapa continued its push for transparency and sustainability. In July, the association hosted the first “Brazilian Cotton Dialogues”, a five-day technical immersion that brought global stakeholders including representatives from ITMF, Better Cotton, IDH, IKEA, and Lacoste, to farms in Brazil’s top cotton-producing states. Participants highlighted Brazil’s large-scale operations, advanced fibre quality controls, regenerative farming practices and the extensive environmental preservation maintained by growers, with conservation of over 64% of the national territory.
