Abstract: This study aims to analyze the competitiveness and orientation of Brazilian and Beninese cotton exports in international trade from 2006 to 2018. The cotton category in this article refers to “neither carded nor combed” (HS: 5201). To measure competitiveness, we chose to calculate the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (RCAI) and Symmetric Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (SRCAI), proposed by Balassa (1965) and Laursen (1998) respectively. The Regional Orientation Index (ROI), proposed by Yeats (1997), of cotton for Asia and EU-28 is used. The data were collected from the International Trade Center (ITC) /Trade Map and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The results found indicate that the Brazilian’s and Beninese’s cotton has been increasing values and above the unit showing its competitiveness in the international market. In addition, Benin was more competitive than Brazil because it has, on average, a higher SRCAI than Brazil (0.99 and 0.7 respectively). Concerning the ROI, it was found that Brazilian and Beninese cotton exports are strongly directed towards Asia, the main consumer market for Beninese and Brazilian cotton. As for the EU-28, both Benin and Brazil do not direct their cotton sales to this economic block.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a competitividade da produção de algodão entre o Brasil e os Estados Unidos da América (EUA) com base nos custos de produção agrícola, tomando como referência a safra 2003/04. No Brasil, os dados foram coletados por meio de painéis com agentes do sistema produtivo, nas regiões de Campo Novo do Parecis (MT), Primavera do Leste (MT) e norte do Paraná. Os dados dos EUA são de fontes secundárias. Os resultados apontaram que, no Brasil, há maior competitividade, com alta produtividade, mas os custos considerados altos por hectare. O risco da cultura é elevado, devido às margens estreitas e aos sunk cost. Nos EUA, há menor produtividade, custos relativamente altos e margens negativas na maioria das regiões. Os dados indicam que a sustentabilidade do setor algodoeiro nos EUA é artificial, dependente de ajuda governamental.<br>This study aims to analyze the competitivity of the cotton production in Brazil and United States of America (USA) in terms of production costs, taking into consideration the 2003/04 crop season. In Brazil, data were colleted in "panel conferences" in the state of Mato Grosso (Campo Novo do Parecis and Pimavera do Leste) and also in the north of the Parana state. USA's data came from secondary sources. The results showed that Brazil has a better competitivity, with good productivity, but high costs per hectare. The risk of the culture is high, given the short margins and the sunk costs. In USA, the average productivity is smaller than in Brazil; the costs are relatively high and the margins are negative in most regions. Results show that the sustainability of the cotton industry in USA is artificial, and dependent of government support.