Brazil may become the world’s largest cotton exporter in 2023.

An increase in the planted area may help it to surpass the United States, which could reduce sowing by 30 per cent to make way for competing crops such as corn, soy, and wheat.Brazilian cotton producers see the sector ready to move forward with next year’s crop, despite higher costs, in order to protect progress in Asian markets, particularly China.

While Brazilians started planting for the 2022-2023 season (to be harvested the following year), Americans are still finishing harvesting the current season’s crop and making preparations for 2023-2024, with harvest expected to occur in the calendar year 2023.

Brazil currently ranks fourth among global cotton producers – behind China, India, and the United States – but is the number two exporter.Brazil expects to increase shipments by more than 22 per cent. Cotton production should increase by 18 per cent, with a recovery in productivity following some weather problems in the previous cycle. Production costs rocketed 27 per cent after a surge in input prices during 2022. Cotton’s path would be similar to that of soybeans, a market in which Brazil has outperformed the US as the largest producer and exporter for some time, while in corn, Brazilian exports may soon gain leadership.