Soybean exports expected to reach 16.1 mln tons in March

The shipping schedule at Brazilian ports indicates soybean exports of 16.1 million tonnes in March, the National Association of Cereal Exporters (Anec) said on Wednesday, March 4.

The volume could surpass the 15.7 million tonnes exported in the same month last year, after soybean shipments in February fell short of expectations due to rains that disrupted port operations, Anec said.

“Rains weakened exports in February, and 8.9 million tonnes of soybeans were exported, more than one million tonnes below the expected volume,” Anec said.

At the Port of Paranaguá alone, there were periods of rain on 26 of the 28 days of the month, Anec noted. Ship loading operations must be suspended whenever precipitation occurs.

Corn exports in March were estimated at 697,000 tonnes, still above the 474,000 tonnes exported in the same month last year, even as the grain is being displaced by soybeans in port warehouses and shipments. In February, Brazil exported 1.1 million tonnes of corn.