Brazil’s plan to become the world’s number one cotton exporter

For decades, Brazil has been a veritable dark horse in the world of cotton production. Flying under the radar of global leaders India, China, and the U.S., the country is now the second-largest exporter of the textile and has its eye on the number one spot by 2030.

In the 2019-2020 harvest, Brazil broke records by exporting 1.95 million tons and hopes to sell over 2 million during the current cycle. Over 98 percent of Brazilian cotton sold abroad goes to Asia: 31% to China, 15% to Vietnam, 12% to Bangladesh, 11% to Pakistan, and 10% to Indonesia.

The Brazilian cotton market has plenty going for it. The country has huge swathes of arable land and favorable climatic conditions, while growers invest heavily in technology and sustainability, ensuring increased productivity and penetration in more environmentally conscious markets.

Over the last 43 years, productivity...