Commodity Origins

How much cotton does Brazil produce and export?

Brazil is the 3rd largest producer of cotton: 2.9 million tonnes in 2023, 12% of the world's 24.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the largest exporter by value: $5.1 billion in 2024, 30% of world exports of raw cotton lint (HS 5201) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 34% of its cotton exports by value.

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Brazil's cotton production

Brazil cotton production, 2023
World rankProduction (tonnes)Share of worldTen-year growthYear
32.9 million tonnes12%+10% a year2023

FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2023. World total is the sum of reporting countries.

Brazil cotton production monthly prices, tonnes, Jan 1961 to Jan 2023Line chart of brazil cotton production monthly prices in tonnes from Jan 1961 to Jan 2023: Brazil cotton production from 423,481 to 2,923,677, peaking at 2,923,677.0500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,0003,500,000196519701975198019851990199520002005201020152020tonnes
Brazil cotton production

Share of world output over time

Brazil's share of world cotton production in selected years
19902000201020202023
3.5%3.6%4.1%11%12%

Average annual share by decade: 1960s 4.8%, 1970s 4.7%, 1980s 4.1%, 1990s 2.5%, 2000s 4.5%, 2010s 6.4%, 2020s 10%. See the concentration-over-time report.

Brazil's cotton exports

Brazil exports of Cotton, not carded or combed, 2024
World rankExport valueShare of world exportsQuantity (tonnes)Average value per tonneYear
1$5.1 billion30%2.8 million t$1,8542024

CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5201 (Cotton, not carded or combed).

Where Brazil's cotton goes

Largest destinations of Brazil's cotton exports, 2024
DestinationValueShare of Brazil's exports
China$1.7B34%
Vietnam$1.0B20%
Bangladesh$604M12%
Pakistan$520M10%
Turkey (Türkiye)$460M8.9%

Largest five destinations of 2,349 exporter-importer pairs BACI reports for 2024. See trade flows.

The cotton price Brazil sells into

The benchmark price, Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East, was $2.1/kg in September 2026, up 22% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 19% a year, calmer in 67% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Cotton price history.

Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Brazil cotton: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/BRA/cotton/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.