Brazil has reached a significant milestone in the global cotton industry, now contributing 14% of worldwide cotton production and holding a record 30.5% share of global cotton exports for the 2024-25 season, according to the latest data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This achievement positions Brazil as the world’s top cotton exporter, surpassing the United States, which now accounts for a 25.8% share, as noted by the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).
Between August 2024 and April 2025, Brazil exported a total of 2.35 million tons of cotton, representing a slight decline of 12% compared to the previous season, according to figures from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade at Brazil’s Ministry of Economy (Secex).
In April 2025, Brazil exported 210.1 thousand tons of cotton over 17 production days. Although this was a 12.1% drop from March 2025 and 13% lower than April 2024’s figures, it still marks the second-highest export volume for the month on record, trailing only the 241.4 thousand tons shipped in April 2024. With a current daily average shipment of 12.36 thousand tons, CEPEA predicts that total exports for April 2025 could reach 247 thousand tons.
Domestic Market Shows Resilience
Domestically, strong seller positioning with remaining stocks from the 2023-24 crop has helped sustain cotton prices, particularly for premium-quality varieties. As a result, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index for cotton rose by 4% from March 31 to April 30, reaching BRL 4.3871 (approximately $0.77) per pound.
This remarkable performance highlights Brazil’s growing dominance in the global cotton market, driven by strong export demand and steady domestic pricing.
