The cost of cotton rises 12% in Mato Grosso and triggers an alert for cotton growers.

The production cost of cotton for the 2025/26 crop season continues to rise in Mato Grosso, the country's largest producing state. According to information released by Imea, based on data from the CPA-MT project, the cost of farming in August was estimated at R$ 10,776.94 per hectare — an increase of 12.27% compared to the previous crop season. The monthly variation also registered an increase, albeit more modest: 0.56% compared to July 2025. The growth is mainly related to the increase in the cost of agricultural pesticides (+0.65%) and fertilizers and soil amendments (+0.47%). In addition to the inputs, the cost of post-production more than doubled — a significant increase of 104.90% — becoming one of the main pressure vectors on the cotton farmer's profitability. As a result, the Effective Operating Cost (COE) jumped to R$ 15,407.20/ha, the highest since the 2022/23 crop season. The increase represents 17.69% more compared to the ...