During this period, export revenues also reached a new record of $5.3bn, up around 9% on the year prior.
The shipment surge consolidates Brazil’s position as the world’s largest cotton exporter, surpassing the US by over 700,000 tonnes and leaving Australia trailing further behind.
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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), as cited in Abrapa’s August report, recorded US exports at 2.656 million tonnes, while Australia followed with 1.241 million tonnes during the 2025/26 commercial year.
Abrapa market intelligence and analysis coordinator, Danyella Bonfim, attributed the rise in exports to a combination of expanded production and “progress in quality, traceability and sustainability.”
“This combination has strengthened the competitiveness of Brazilian cotton and, above all, international buyers’ confidence in the country’s ability to supply the market on a regular and consistent basis,” Bonfim said.
The data revealed that China emerged as the largest buyer of Brazilian cotton, importing approximately 770,500 tonnes, representing 23% of total Brazilian exports and registering an increase of 309,200 tonnes compared to the previous commercial year.
Bonfim linked China’s higher demand partly to ongoing trade tensions with the US, which resulted in an additional tariff on US cotton, “reducing its competitiveness.”
She said: “US cotton, our main competitor in this quality range, still faces an additional tariff in the Chinese market, which reduces its competitiveness. As a result, Brazilian cotton is gaining ground by offering a good combination of quality, available supply and price.”
Bangladesh also significantly ramped up its intake by 173,200 tonnes, which was attributed to the growth of its textile sector and a shift away from hand-picked cotton in favour of mechanised fibre.
Meanwhile, shipments to Vietnam and Pakistan dropped by 137,400 and 79,200 tonnes respectively.
India’s role in Brazil’s cotton exports has expanded rapidly. Imports soared more than 40-fold over two years, supported in 2025 by India’s temporary suspension of its 11% import tariff on cotton.
Although India is a major cotton producer, the country’s textile sector prompted increased imports, which Brazil was able to supply owing to competitive pricing and logistical capacity.
“When the need to import more emerged, Brazilian cotton was already known and had a presence among buyers,” Bonfim added.
The monthly breakdown showed peak shipments in December 2025, when Brazil exported 452,000 tonnes, the highest monthly figure for the year.
Although exports dipped in early 2026, they rose again in March and April. July closed the cycle with 155,000 tonnes, a 21.8% increase from July 2025, marking the second-highest export volume for the month on record.
Despite the current cycle’s surplus of $5.29bn in the cotton trade balance, Abrapa forecasts a decrease for the 2026/27 season.
Projections indicate a national output of about 3.9 million tonnes, with exports likely to drop to 3.1 million tonnes, mainly due to an anticipated smaller cotton harvest.
