EN 
PT_BR 
The cost of producing cotton In Mato Grosso, prices showed a slight decline in September 2026, but producers still need to sell cotton for at least R$ 119.61 per arroba to cover the Effective Operating Cost (EOC) of the 2026/27 harvest, according to data released by the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea), based on the CPA-MT project. This value is the highest recorded since the 2022/23 harvest and reinforces the importance of expense control and commercial planning to preserve profit margins.
In September, the estimated cost of the 2026/27 crop was R$ 10,615.04 per hectare, a decrease of 0.03% compared to August. The reduction was mainly influenced by lower spending on pesticides, although increases in other expenses limited the decline. The COE (Cost of Production) was estimated at R$ 15,239.62 per hectare, a decrease of 0.07% compared to the previous month. Despite the slight decrease in costs, the level needed to cover operating expenses remains high.
According to data released by Imea, based on the CPA-MT project, the estimated cost of cotton in Mato Grosso reached R$10,615.04 per hectare in September 2026, a decrease of 0.03% compared to the August projection. The main factor for the reduction was the 0.18% decrease in expenses with pesticides. However, this movement was partially offset by the 1.09% increase in expenses with mechanized operations and the 1.59% increase in land leasing. These increases limited the decrease in costs, resulting in a small monthly variation. The behavior of the different cost components shows the importance of monitoring both inputs and operational and land use expenses.
The Effective Operating Cost (EOC) for the 2026/27 crop was estimated at R$ 15,239.62 per hectare, a reduction of 0.07% compared to the August projection, according to data released by Imea. Considering the projected average productivity of 127.41 arrobas per hectare, cotton producers need to sell the lint for at least R$ 119.61 per arroba to cover the EOC. According to the survey, this is the highest value recorded since the 2022/23 crop. The indicator highlights the pressure of operating expenses on the activity, even in the face of a monthly decrease in costs.
Although costs decreased in September, the small variation does not eliminate the challenges to the profitability of cotton farming in Mato Grosso.
According to data released by Imea, controlling expenses and adopting marketing strategies will be fundamental to preserving profit margins in the 2026/27 harvest. In this scenario, monitoring the evolution of costs per hectare, evaluating operational expenses, and planning the sale of cotton are important measures for producers given the minimum price needed to cover the COE (Cost of Production).
