3 days ago
Brazil set to end 24-25 cotton season with record 2.82 mn tons exports
Brazil is set to close the 2024-25 cotton season with record export volumes, according to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX). From August 2024 to the fourth week of July 2025, the country shipped 2.82 million tons—5 per cent more than the previous record of 2.68 million tons, as per the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA).
Between August 2024 and June 2025, key buyers of Brazilian cotton included Vietnam (19 per cent), Pakistan (18 per cent), China (16 per cent), Bangladesh (15 per cent), Turkiye (12 per cent), Indonesia (6 per cent) and India (5 per cent), reflecting a diversification of export destinations. From January to late July 2025, exports reached 1.61 million tons, up 2.92 per cent year-on-year.
In the first 19 days of July alone, Brazil exported 111,700 tons—15.9 per cent less than in June 2025 but the second-highest volume for the month, trailing only July 2024's 167,200 tons, CEPEA said in its latest fortnightly report on the Brazilian cotton market.
Brazil is poised to close the 2024-25 cotton season with a record 2.82 million tons in exports, 5 per cent above the previous peak. Key buyers included Vietnam, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Indonesia and India. While shipments surged, domestic prices fell to their lowest since December 2024 amid harvest progress, surplus supply and weak demand, with global prices further pressuring export parity.
In the local market, cotton prices fell sharply in late July and early August amid harvest progress, ample domestic surplus, and weak demand. Lower global prices further pressured values by reducing export parity.
The CEPEA/ESALQ Index (8-day payment) dropped 1.69 per cent between July 28 and August 4, closing at BRL 4.0254 (~$0.74) per pound, the lowest since December 4, 2024. July's monthly average of BRL 4.1061 (~$0.76) per pound was 4.03 per cent below June 2025 and 2 per cent lower year-on-year, marking the weakest monthly average since November 2024.
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) projects the 2025-26 global cotton area at 31.3 million hectares, with average yields of 827 kilos per hectare, leading to an estimated production of 25.912 million tons—1.55 per cent higher year-on-year. Global consumption is forecast at 25.564 million tons, up 0.26 per cent from 2024-25, but still 1.34 per cent below projected supply.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)
