Brazilian cotton exports reached 291.2 thousand tons in May 2026, with revenue of US$449.6 million, according to data from Secex (Secretariat of Foreign Trade), MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services), analyzed by Anea (National Association of Cotton Exporters).
The performance represents the month of May and reinforces the historic moment of the sector, which accumulates 3.129 million tons shipped in the season from July 2025 to May 2026, an unprecedented record for the Brazilian cotton chain.
Despite the drop compared to April, when 370.4 thousand tons were exported and US$560.6 million in revenue was recorded, the annual comparison shows strong expansion. In comparison with May 2025, there was a 51.5% increase in volume and 45.3% in revenue, consolidating the significant advance of the product in the international market.
In the scenario of the country’s total exports, cotton accounted for 1.41% in May, occupying 15th position in the general ranking and third place among agribusiness products, with a share of 5.52%.
According to Anea, the retraction compared to April is explained by the seasonality of fiber shipments, while the accumulated performance of the 2025/2026 harvest continues at a strong and consistent pace.
“We have already surpassed 3 million tons in the accumulated period from July 2025 to May 2026. It is another month with a monthly record, we already have the biggest second quarter in history and there is still June to go. The 12 months, and exporters are doing an excellent job, even in the face of. Brazilian cotton continues to advance”, stated the president of Anea, Dawid Wajs.
Destinations
Among the main destinations for Brazilian exports in May, the highlight was Bangladesh, which led purchases with a 21.1% share. Next come Pakistan, with 19%, Türkiye, with 14.2%, and Vietnam, with 13.4%.
Together, Bangladesh and Pakistan accounted for around 40% of the month’s shipments, highlighting the strong demand from large Asian textile markets for Brazilian fiber.
China, which already accounted for around a third of exports this season, reduced its share to 9.6% in May. Also included among the destinations are Indonesia, with 8.5%, India, with 6.3%, Malaysia, with 3.6%, Egypt, with 2.1%, South Korea, with 0.8%, Thailand, with 0.5%, Mauritius, with 0.4%, and South Africa, with 0.1%.
India recorded a drop in participation, from 11% in April to 6.3% in May, after the end of tax exemptions for cotton imports. In the previous period, the benefit had significantly boosted Indian purchases of Brazilian fiber.
