Brazil expecting record grain output

Conab forecasts record grain production at 322.4 million tonnes, which would represent an 8.2% increase from 2023-24. The company projects that 81.39 million hectares will be sown in the current harvest, adding up all production cycles, which corresponds to an addition of 1.45 million hectares compared to the previous season.

“The rains that have occurred so far are beneficial to crops in the main producing states,” said Edegar Pretto, president, Conab. “In some places we have had short periods of lack of rain, but not enough to influence the estimate of a new record in Brazilian grain production.”

Soybean sowing is entering its final stages, and this week the planting rate reached 94.1% of the 47.37 million hectares allocated for the oilseed, as indicated by the Harvest Progress published by Conab. It noted that the weather has contributed to the implementation and development of the crop in most of the producing states. In some regions of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Piauí, Tocantins and Maranhão, short periods of lack of rain were recorded. Even so, the weather conditions are favorable and production of 166.21 million tonnes is expected, up 12.5% compared to last year, Conab said.

With a 9.8% increase in the area allocated to rice, estimated at 1.77 million hectares, the planting of the crop is advancing and already has reached 86.6%. According to the Conab survey, an increase in both dryland and irrigated rice cultivation is expected and production is estimated at 12.1 million tonnes.

Corn production is pegged at 119.63 million tonnes, 3.4% above the previous harvest, Conab said. In the first harvest cycle, output is expected to reach 22.61 million tonnes. Sowing of the first crop is already 70% complete, and the weather conditions in the main producing regions are favorable.

The 2024 winter crops harvest is nearing completion, the company said. Wheat production is forecast at 8.06 million tonnes, a reduction of 0.4% compared to the previous harvest. This lower production mainly was caused by a 14.1% reduction in planted area in the states of the Southern Region, which represent 85.4% of wheat production in Brazil.