Perspectives from the 15th Brazilian Cotton Congress point to an expansion in planted area and highlight Brazil’s competitiveness
Brazilian cotton holds an increasingly strategic position in the international market, and the outlook for the 2026/27 crop season was among the topics highlighted in discussions at the 15th Brazilian Cotton Congress, held in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in September. The scenario involves not only expectations for production and productivity, but also issues related to competitiveness, the global market, and the strategies needed to strengthen Brazil’s presence among the world’s leading players.
The panel “Brazilian Cotton on the Global Stage: Perspectives and Strategies for the 2026/27 Crop Season” brought together three cotton growers from different regions of Brazil, offering regional perspectives on the current state of production and the outlook for the next season.
The discussion was moderated by André Pessoa, CEO of Agroconsult, and featured Alessandra Zanotto Costa, president of the Bahia Cotton Growers Association (Abapa); Alexandre De Marco, director of Grupo BDM; and Aurélio Pavinato, CEO of SLC Agrícola and Board Member of the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa).
Strengthening international presence
Brazilian cotton enters the 2026/27 crop season amid expanding production and a strengthening international presence. The country is increasing its planted area, consolidating its position among the world’s leading exporters, and advancing traceability and certification initiatives. At the same time, growers face high costs, volatility in input prices, changes in international trade, and a climate scenario that requires attention.
This was one of the scenarios presented by Agroconsult in a series of analyses on the outlook for the next crop season and Brazil’s position in the global market.
According to the data presented, Brazil’s cotton area is expected to reach 2.22 million hectares in 2026/27, an increase of approximately 7% compared with the 2.07 million hectares recorded in 2025/26. This keeps the country on a growth trajectory after reaching 2.21 million hectares in 2024/25.
Mato Grosso remains the main producing region, with around 1.57 million hectares projected, followed by Bahia, with approximately 425,700 hectares. Other states, including Maranhão, Piauí, and Tocantins, are also part of this expansion.
Brazil expands its presence in the international market
In addition to production growth, Brazil has been strengthening its position as a global cotton supplier. One of the advantages highlighted is the consistency of Brazilian supply. The country is able to maintain significant volumes of cotton reaching the international market throughout every month of the year, a characteristic that differentiates it from other major producers.
In some months, Brazilian shipments reach around 400,000 tonnes, while in others they are close to 200,000 tonnes. The ability to keep cotton available throughout the year allows Brazil to serve different markets and expand its presence in international trade.
China is among the main destinations, with around 700,000 tonnes, but Brazilian cotton also reaches markets such as Bangladesh, Türkiye, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. The diversification of destinations strengthens the country’s presence across different consumer markets and reduces the concentration of exports among a small number of buyers.
Geopolitics influences the fiber market
Another point of attention for the next crop season is the geopolitical scenario. International conflicts and changes in trade relations have affected costs, logistics, and global supply chains, with impacts also extending to the fiber market.
The relationship between cotton and polyester is one example. Rising oil prices, with oil being the main raw material used in polyester production, increase the cost of synthetic fiber and may alter competitiveness among the different materials used by the textile industry. In this context, cotton gains relevance in the comparison between fibers.
Another effect is related to international shipping costs. Rising container shipping costs put additional pressure on global trade and increase the importance of logistics efficiency for the competitiveness of exporting countries.
For Brazilian cotton, this means that competitiveness depends on more than productivity in the field. Transportation, storage, port logistics, and the ability to maintain the flow of exports also play an important role in determining costs and competing for markets.
Production costs and the outlook for the next crop season
Even with prospects for an expansion in planted area and for maintaining Brazil’s position in the international market, growers must contend with input prices, operating costs, and fluctuations in agricultural markets, participants noted.
In addition, climate conditions remain on the radar. Rainfall was considered positive for cotton development, contributing to the outlook for the next crop season. At the same time, the effects of climate phenomena remain an important variable in production planning across the country’s different regions.
The expectation of a 2.22-million-hectare area reinforces the growth trajectory of Brazilian cotton production. This trend is accompanied by the consolidation of Mato Grosso as the country’s main producing region and the growing participation of states such as Bahia, Maranhão, Piauí, and Tocantins.
More than expanding production, however, the challenge for the next crop season is to turn scale into a competitive advantage. Consistency of supply, market diversification, traceability, certifications, productivity, and logistics efficiency stand out as important differentiators for Brazilian cotton.
In this scenario, the 2026/27 crop season represents another step in consolidating Brazil as one of the leading players in the global cotton market. The challenge is to maintain production growth while the sector responds to an international environment marked by price fluctuations, high costs, geopolitical changes, and new demands from consumer markets.
With greater scale, a consistent presence in international trade, and access to different destinations, Brazil enters the next crop season with the potential to expand its position in the global market. The ability to combine production, quality, competitiveness, and consistency will be key to sustaining this progress in the coming cycles.
