Conab raises record grains outlook for Brazil

With the soybean harvest complete and second corn crop harvest well underway, Brazil’s National Supply Company (Conab) has raised its projection of a record grain harvest to 336.1 million tonnes for marketing year 2024-25, up 38.6 million tonnes (13%) from the 2023-24 season.

In its ninth harvest survey released June 12, Conab noted a 2.3% increase in total cultivated area to 81.8 million hectares, average overall productivity reaching 4,108 kilos/hectare and generally good weather for its projected record national performance.

Conab projected total production to reach 332.9 million tonnes in its May survey.

With the soybean harvest wrapped up, Conab has estimated production at a survey record 169.6 million tonnes, 21.9 million tonnes higher than 2023-24, for the world’s top producer and exporter of the oilseed.

“The good result is justified by the increasing use of technology by producers, combined with good weather conditions in most producing regions,” Conab said.

Conab projected a total corn crop of 128.3 million tonnes for 2024-25 with the second harvest at 101 million tonnes, an increase of 12.2% from last season’s second harvest. Harvesting work for the second corn crop has begun in Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Maranhão and Paraná.

“The good expectation is influenced by the good productivity achieved, which reflects the favorable weather conditions for the cereal that occurred throughout the cycle in most producing regions, in addition to the appropriate management adopted by Brazilian producers,” Conab said.

Harvest is nearly complete for rice, an important food for the domestic market, with Conab projecting 14.9% year-on-year growth to 12.15 million tonnes. A larger planted area and favorable weather, particularly in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the largest national producer, were credited for the improvement.

Tags: corn, grain, Brazil, crop forecast