Garlic Imports into Brazil Rise as Domestic Producers Cut Planting Area

Brazilian garlic growers are reducing their planted area as they struggle to compete with imported products. The National Association of Garlic Producers (Anapa) estimates that the area under cultivation will shrink by around 15% this season amid high production costs and rising garlic imports into Brazil.

Imports, which had declined between 2020 and 2024, returned to growth last year. In 2025, Brazil imported 158,800 tonnes of fresh or chilled garlic, up 9.1% from 2024. In value terms, purchases totaled $228.9 million, an increase of 11.3%, according to data from Brazil’s National Supply Company (Conab).

For Anapa President Rafael Jorge Corsino, the problem lies in the gap between Brazilian production costs and the price of imported garlic. According to him, producing one kilogram of garlic in Brazil currently costs between R$14 and R$16, while imported garlic reaches the market at around R$11 to R$12 per kilogram.

“The cost of producing garlic here in Brazil is very high. Today, imports involve practices that are detrimental to competition,” he said.

Corsino attributes part of the pressure on costs to Brazil’s tax burden, interest rates and dependence on imported fertilizers and fuels. According to him, the combination of these factors is squeezing growers’ margins and has already led some farmers to sell their garlic below production cost.

Garlic Imports into Brazil Return to Growth

The increase in foreign purchases is taking place in a market where Brazilian production is spread across different periods of the year. In the Cerrado region, particularly in Minas Gerais and Goiás, planting takes place between March and May, with harvesting beginning in June. In southern states such as Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, planting is concentrated between June and July, with harvesting taking place in November and December.

This production calendar means domestic supply varies throughout the year, keeping imports an important part of Brazil’s garlic supply.

According to Conab, imports declined by an average of 6.9% per year between 2020 and 2024, while domestic availability fell by an average of 2.3% annually over the same period. In 2025, however, garlic imports into Brazil rose 9.1%, reversing the trend seen in previous years.

In terms of import volumes, Datamar data show a sharp year-to-date decline. According to the company, Brazil imported approximately 26,671 metric tons of garlic (NCM 070320) in the first seven months of the year, down 45.7% from the same period a year earlier. The chart below shows the monthly volumes recorded:

Brazilian Garlic Imports | Jan-Jul | 2022-2026 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The rebound in imports came after the end of the domestic harvest in the previous crop cycle, a period when Brazilian production accounted for a smaller share of domestic supply.

Planted Area Shrinks

Pressure on profitability is also beginning to show in the area devoted to garlic production. Corsino estimates a decline of around 15% in the current crop and said growers have reduced planted area by roughly 2,000 hectares compared with the previous season.

According to the Anapa president, if current conditions persist, another 2,000 hectares could be taken out of production next season. The association also estimates an impact on employment in the sector, with around 32,000 jobs potentially lost as activity contracts.

The decline comes despite investments in technology and productivity. Corsino said research carried out with the participation of public institutions has helped improve the quality and productivity of Brazilian garlic, including through the development of virus-free planting material.

“We have the best garlic in the world, we have the best technology, we have productivity, we are competitive,” the Anapa president said. The association’s assessment, however, is that productivity gains are not enough to offset the cost gap with imported garlic.

Chinese Garlic Shipments Gain Ground

Argentina remained Brazil’s largest garlic supplier in 2025, shipping 87,000 tonnes, equivalent to 54.8% of imported volume and 59.1% of the value of foreign purchases. China ranked second, with 67,000 tonnes and a 42.2% share by volume. Egypt came third, with 3,900 tonnes.

The composition of garlic imports into Brazil, however, changed significantly. Argentina’s share fell from 70.4% of imported volume in 2024 to 54.8% in 2025. Over the same period, Brazilian purchases of Chinese garlic jumped 66.4%.

China’s gains came even after Brazil adopted trade-defense measures. Since September 2025, Chinese imports have been subject to an additional antidumping duty of $0.78 per kilogram, on top of a 35% import tariff on garlic intended for consumption, under MDIC/Gecex Resolution No. 797.

China is by far the world’s largest garlic producer, with output of 21.6 million tonnes, equivalent to 73.1% of global production. India and Egypt follow with shares of 10.9% and 1.9%, respectively. Together, the three countries accounted for 85.9% of global production that year.

Industry Calls for Review of Price Undertaking

One of Anapa’s main demands concerns the price undertaking agreed with Chinese companies as part of Brazil’s trade-defense measures. According to Corsino, the agreement initially set a price of $16.90 per 10-kilogram box, but that figure was later reduced to $15.

At the same time, according to the association, Brazilian production costs rose from approximately $23 to $25 per box. After taxes and other charges are taken into account, Corsino said the price associated with the undertaking would reach around $21, still below the domestic cost estimated by the association.

Anapa is calling on the federal government to review or terminate the price undertaking. The association says such a move would ease pressure on Brazilian producers and help prevent a further contraction in domestic production.

Argentina and Egypt Come Under Scrutiny

Beyond China, the industry is also monitoring growing imports from other countries. Corsino said the association intends to ask Brazil’s trade-defense authorities to assess whether Argentine garlic exports may involve dumping practices.

The concern is particularly relevant for growers in southern Brazil. According to Corsino, planted area in the region has fallen from around 8,000 hectares between the late 1980s and the 1990s to approximately 1,500 hectares today.

Egypt has also drawn increased attention from the industry. Corsino said Brazilian imports of Egyptian garlic have risen by more than 300% this year and that Anapa has already filed a complaint with authorities seeking verification of the product’s origin.

The association is concerned about the possibility that Chinese garlic is being routed through Egypt. Corsino also said the product reaches the Brazilian market at prices below those of domestically produced garlic without being subject to taxes.

Foreign Supply Gains Importance in Brazil’s Garlic Market

The situation reinforces the importance of imported garlic to Brazilian supply. Brazil is the world’s fourth-largest garlic importer, behind Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. At the same time, Brazil is one of Argentina’s main markets, accounting for 67.2% of the country’s garlic export volume.

Despite the increase in imported volumes, the average price Brazil paid for foreign garlic also rose in 2025. Conab reported an increase of 2% in U.S. dollar terms and 2.3% in current Brazilian reais compared with 2024.

The result is a market in which Brazilian growers face high costs and competition from international suppliers while the country becomes increasingly dependent on imported garlic. For the industry, the debate over trade-defense measures is becoming central to preserving domestic production and economic activity in municipalities where garlic farming plays an important role.

Source: CNN Brasil

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