Brazil more than triples sorghum production in five years

Brazil’s sorghum production has increased from around 2.1 mln tons in 2020/21 to a forecast 7.62 mln tons in 2025/26. This means output has risen by about 3.6 times over five seasons, with the current crop expected to set a new record.

Compared with 2024/25, when Brazil harvested around 6.1 mln tons of sorghum, production this season is expected to increase by more than 20%. The main driver is the expansion of planted area, particularly in the Centre-West, where sorghum acreage has increased by more than 50%.

Part of the new sorghum area is replacing second-crop corn. When soybean harvesting is delayed and the optimal planting window for corn narrows, farmers increasingly switch to sorghum, which is better suited to late planting and more tolerant of water stress.

Demand is also growing from the feed and biofuel sectors. Sorghum can partially substitute corn in animal feed, while its high starch content allows it to be processed at ethanol plants.

As a result, sorghum is gradually moving beyond its role as a fallback crop when conditions are unfavorable for corn. Broader end uses and rising demand are helping the crop develop a market of its own and become more attractive to Brazilian farmers.

Tags: sorghum, Brazil