BRAZILIAN COTTON

Key Differentiators

Brazilian cotton has emerged as one of the most trusted choices in global markets. While it competes with established suppliers that bring their own strengths, Brazil distinguishes itself through a unique blend of scalability, quality, sustainability, and traceability.

Quality
Assurance

State-of-the-art technology and innovation used to produce Brazilian Cotton.
100% mechanized picking ensures contamination free cotton.
100% of cotton bale samples are tested by an integrated network of classing labs located in the main growing regions and supervised by the Brazilian Cotton Testing Reference Center.
Brazilian Cotton Quality Control Program (SBRHVI), launched in 2016, standardizes the instrumental classification of cotton by allowing digital access to cotton test data, and ensuring transparency and credibility to the country’s test results.
SBRHVI is built on laboratory monitoring for classification process standardization, integration of classification data into a centralized traceability system, as well as continuous training and technical guidance to ensure uniform testing practices across classing labs in Brazil.
Every buyer receives data-backed cotton bales, traceable to origin and proven against global benchmarks.
Monthly Quality Reports further reinforce credibility. To access the reports, click here.

State-of-the-art technology and innovation used to produce Brazilian Cotton.
100% mechanized picking ensures contamination free cotton.
100% of cotton bale samples are tested by an integrated network of classing labs located in the main growing regions and supervised by the Brazilian Cotton Testing Reference Center.
Brazilian Cotton Quality Control Program (SBRHVI), launched in 2016, standardizes the instrumental classification of cotton by allowing digital access to cotton test data, and ensuring transparency and credibility to the country’s test results.
SBRHVI is built on laboratory monitoring for classification process standardization, integration of classification data into a centralized traceability system, as well as continuous training and technical guidance to ensure uniform testing practices across classing labs in Brazil.
Every buyer receives data-backed cotton bales, traceable to origin and proven against global benchmarks.
Monthly Quality Reports further reinforce credibility. To access the reports, click here.

Leadership in Sustainable
Cotton Production

ABRAPA’s Responsible Brazilian Cotton program or ABR is a pivotal program to ensure sustainable production that certifies farms that are committed to a strict protocol of good agricultural, environmental, social, and economic practices through annual third-party audits.
The ABR Program, launched by ABRAPA in 2012, has operated alongside the BCI since 2013, with both programs following unified protocols.
There are more than 180 compliance items on ABR from the best agricultural and environmental practices such as soil and water conservation, biodiversity protection to ideal working conditions for employees, efficient resource use, etc.
By combining large-scale production with verifiable sustainability credentials, the ABR Program reinforces Brazil’s commitment to delivering ethical cotton to global markets.
Brazilian cotton stands out in sustainability through the following practices:
○ Land & Biodiversity: Cotton occupies just 0.2% of Brazil’s territory, and farmers preserve 5.6x more native vegetation than cotton planted.
○ Yield Efficiency: Brazil produces 2.4x more lint per hectare than the global average.
○ Water Efficiency: Over 90% of Brazilian cotton is rain-fed, using 98% less water per kg of lint than the global average.
○ Soil Health: Farmers implement 100% no-till practices, maintain crop rotation, and reduce nitrogen use to protect soil quality.
○ Ecosystem Protection: Over 35% of farm areas are preserved, including 4.7 million hectares of native forest and cerrado region.
○ Worker Welfare: Farms comply with WTO’s decent work standards, provide safety training, education, and health and well-being programs.

ABRAPA’s Responsible Brazilian Cotton program or ABR is a pivotal program to ensure sustainable production that certifies farms that are committed to a strict protocol of good agricultural, environmental, social, and economic practices through annual third-party audits.
The ABR Program, launched by ABRAPA in 2012, has operated alongside the BCI since 2013, with both programs following unified protocols.
There are more than 180 compliance items on ABR from the best agricultural and environmental practices such as soil and water conservation, biodiversity protection to ideal working conditions for employees, efficient resource use, etc.
By combining large-scale production with verifiable sustainability credentials, the ABR Program reinforces Brazil’s commitment to delivering ethical cotton to global markets.
Brazilian cotton stands out in sustainability through the following practices:
○ Land & Biodiversity: Cotton occupies just 0.2% of Brazil’s territory, and farmers preserve 5.6x more native vegetation than cotton planted.
○ Yield Efficiency: Brazil produces 2.4x more lint per hectare than the global average.
○ Water Efficiency: Over 90% of Brazilian cotton is rain-fed, using 98% less water per kg of lint than the global average.
○ Soil Health: Farmers implement 100% no-till practices, maintain crop rotation, and reduce nitrogen use to protect soil quality.
○ Ecosystem Protection: Over 35% of farm areas are preserved, including 4.7 million hectares of native forest and cerrado region.
○ Worker Welfare: Farms comply with WTO’s decent work standards, provide safety training, education, and health and well-being programs.

Advanced Traceability
Solutions

Brazil is the only major cotton origin offering bale-by-bale traceability for every cotton bale exported. Each bale of Brazilian cotton carries a 20-digit code that can be used to identify the following information, bale by bale: farm, crop year, ginning plant, classing laboratory, and HVI test results.
It also informs whether the cotton has been certified by the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) program and licensed by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), both of which attest to the sustainability of the cotton.
Brazilian cotton distinguishes itself in traceability through the following features:

ABRAPA is taking traceability further by integrating lot-level insights through their “Lot and Bale-by-Bale Consultant System”, which will offer:

Lot-level analysis to provide aggregated results across bales, helping mills to optimize mixing strategies and sourcing plans.
Integrated sustainability compliance and fibre benchmarks to enhance decision-making for both mills and traders.

Brazil is the only major cotton origin offering bale-by-bale traceability for every cotton bale exported. Each bale of Brazilian cotton carries a 20-digit code that can be used to identify the following information, bale by bale: farm, crop year, ginning plant, classing laboratory, and HVI test results.
It also informs whether the cotton has been certified by the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) program and licensed by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), both of which attest to the sustainability of the cotton.
Brazilian cotton distinguishes itself in traceability through the following features:

ABRAPA is taking traceability further by integrating lot-level insights through their “Lot and Bale-by-Bale Consultant System”, which will offer:

Lot-level analysis to provide aggregated results across bales, helping mills to optimize mixing strategies and sourcing plans.
Integrated sustainability compliance and fibre benchmarks to enhance decision-making for both mills and traders.

Key Statistics

      Brazil produced 4 million tons lint

      cotton in 2024-25 season

      Brazil is the third-largest cotton

      producer in the world in 2024-25

Source: Abrapa & Conab

Source: USDA & Conab

      Brazil exported nearly 3 million tons of cotton

      fibre in 2024, mainly to Asia

      Brazil is #1 world's

      largest cotton exporter

Source: ComexStat

Source: UN Comtrade

Buyer Guidelines

Cotton Brazil is an industry-wide initiative dedicated to promoting the recognition and uptake of Brazilian cotton globally. Our mission is to showcase the quality, sustainability, traceability, and reliability of Brazil’s natural cotton fiber.

Valued for its comfort, biodegradability, and natural characteristics, Brazilian cotton appeals to consumers who prioritize both quality and a commitment to sustainability. It is a preferred choice in the global market.

Cotton Brazil is an initiative of Abrapa (the Brazilian Cotton Producers Association), ANEA (the Brazilian Cotton Shippers Association), and ApexBrasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).

It is important to note that Abrapa or Cotton Brazil do not sell cotton directly. Instead, they serve as a trusted resource, connecting stakeholders with reliable information, market insights, and opportunities to engage with the Brazilian cotton sector.

To explore the cotton suppliers operating in Brazil, you can access the comprehensive Buyers Guide here.

Embrace the transformative power of cotton

External Resources

Success Guide for Spinners

Download the guide to successful spinning with Brazilian cotton, a comprehensive manual featuring proven best practices and insights for spinning mills to optimize their spinning processes.