Brazilian Cotton Producers Set to Surpass U.S. Harvest

Carlos Alberto Moresco, 49, took his first steps into agriculture at the age of seven. Growing up in Southern Brazil, where his parents cultivated grains and produced milk, he developed a passion for fieldwork, eventually becoming a prominent cotton producer.

The allure of cotton is gaining momentum in Brazilian agriculture, with Moresco serving as a tangible example of this trend. Despite anticipating a slight drop in productivity for the 2023/2024 harvest—from the previous record of over 340 cotton per hectare to 310 arrobas—Moresco considers this result within the average range. He attributes the dip to climate concerns, particularly this year’s El Niño effects.

Although not reaching the stellar performance of the previous cycle, Moresco exemplifies the success of cotton cultivation in Brazil. After years of exponential growth, the country is poised to surpass the United States in cotton production, securing third in the global production ranking, trailing only China and India. Furthermore, Brazil is expected to compete with the U.S. in the export market.

Brazilian Cotton Exports | Jan 2019 – Nov 2023 | WTMT

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The latest projections from the National Supply Company (Conab) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) align, estimating Brazil’s cotton production at 3.1 million tons of lint. The more optimistic Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa) forecasts 3.37 million tons, indicating a 3% growth from the previous season.

The USDA anticipates Brazil nearly doubling its cotton exports to reach 2.5 million tons, closely approaching the U.S. export volume of 2.6 million tons.

“These figures bring not only a sense of optimism but also a sense of deservingness. We have invested in this crop for 30 years to make it more modern and sustainable. Today, Brazil’s production is efficient and will claim its place in the market among other leading nations,” affirms Abrapa President Alexandre Pedro Schenkel.

According to Schenkel, Asia, a significant consumer of Brazilian cotton, is expected to remain a key player in exports in 2024. In this context, Brazil can explore business opportunities even in crucial commodity-supplying nations like India.

“India is the world’s second-largest cotton producer, but if there is any stress on local supply, they will have to buy from somewhere. Hence, we need to be present when the opportunity arises,” notes the Abrapa president, highlighting a significant obstacle to increased sales—a hefty 11% export duty imposed by India on shipments exceeding 50,000 tons.

Source: Globo Rural

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