BRAZILIAN COTTON

Brazilian cotton is one of the main agricultural crops in the country and has been gaining ground each year among the largest global players.

China

Brazil is one of the largest fiber producers and exporters in the world

China

more than 80% of production has ABR and Better Cotton socio-environmental certification

China

more than 90% of crops do not receive artificial irrigation, only rainwater

China

100% of fiber is HVI tested and tracked bale by bale

China

0,2% of the national territory is used for cotton cultivation

China

60% less land use

China

productivity of 1,954 kilos of lint per hectare

China

788% more efficiency than the global average

general data for Brazil

3.5 million tons

produced, 7.7% above
the 2022/2023 cycle

  • 2.5 million tons with ABR certification *
  • 38 thousand formal jobs *

2023/2024 harvest*

1.45 million tons

produced, 7.7% above
the 2022/2023 cycle

  • 98% of exports to Asia, the largest  destination for Brazilian cotton **

In 2022/2023**

the history


Brazilian cotton has a curious history of resilience and innovation. According to historical reports, local indigenous people used cotton fibers to produce yarns and rustic fabrics. But in 1750 the country discovered the commercial potential of its agricultural production and cotton became a sort of white gold for the domestic economy.

an ancestral fiber 1500

Brazilian indigenous peoples knew and transformed cotton into threads and rustic fabrics even before the arrival of the Portuguese.

the era of "white gold" 1750

Lint production reached commercial levels and emerged as a promising economic activity for Colonial Brazil.

one of the largest cotton growers and exporters 1980

Brazil had remained relevant in the global cotton market. At the time the country’s Northeast region stood out, leading production.

the cotton bollweevil mid1980s

This small insect brought in from abroad devastated cotton fields, especially in the Northeast, destroying entire growing areas.

huge losses early1990s

In addition to the pest, changes in economic policies contributed to the reduction of more than 60% of the cotton acreage. 800,000 people were unemployed by 1995.

overcoming the challenges late1990s

Cotton farming was restored in Brazil through technology advances, and the crop migrated to the Brazilian Midwest, where the plant adapted to the soil and climate.

the Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (Abrapa) is founded 1999

The organization helped spread new farming techniques and good practices. The creation of Abrapa marks a new phase of prosperity and development for cotton.

creation of the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) socio-environmental certification 2012

Based on regional sustainability practices, a national protocol was established in 2012 for the socio-environmental certification of Brazilian cotton, the ABR..

today cotton is produced across various regions of the country

the biggest producing state are Mato Grosso & Bahia, which grows more than 90% of our fiber

general data for Brazil

Brazilian cotton is one of the main agricultural crops in the country and has been gaining ground each year among the largest global players.

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Standardizes the cotton to be harvested, reduces fiber contamination and brings better working conditions for farm workers.

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The adaptation of cotton varieties to the Cerrado environment seeks to ensure good yields in this planting environment and continuously improved fiber quality for buyers.

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Reduces fuel consumption per hectare, reduces erosion and water loss, maintains the ideal temperature for the plants, improves biology, optimizes the use of fertilizers and chemicals, and increases organic matter and carbon fixation in the soil.

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Encompasses technologies for the rational use of inputs, georeferencing, better distribution of plants in the soil, targeted control of pesticides, soil mapping for decision making, and information control centers for machines.

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A complementary technology and a fundamental tool to help understand cotton dynamics while respecting the environment. Biofactories are installed on producing farms.

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The use georeferencing, aerial applications, traps for monitoring pests (including in the off-season), high-precision sprayers that turn nozzles on and off individually, and low flow rates minimize losses and ensure greater effectiveness in the use of pesticides.

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Identify the best period for pesticide application and minimize water loss in irrigation by evaporation, monitor and anticipate the risk of fires, and monitor ideal conditions for the proliferation of diseases and pests.

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In Brazil, ginning takes place in plants located in the farms. These are high-investment ginning plants that ensure standardization, quality, traceability, and delivery to the end consumer.

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Many farms have invested in solar energy generation.

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Traceability of bales based on georeferencing, which allows you to know which plot the bale came from

production

Cotton is produced in many states across the country. Find out:

who make the difference

The farm is where cotton’s long journey begins. This is where many people dedicate their lives to ensuring the world’s industry is supplied with quality and transparency. Meet some of our workers.

cotton br

insights

Stay up to date with all the news about Brazilian cotton.