Brazil agribusiness posts record export revenue in 2025, but 2026 opens under uncertainty

Brazil’s agribusiness sector closed 2025 with a new record for export revenue, even in an environment marked by tariffs imposed by the United States and fluctuations in average selling prices. A survey by Cepea, based on data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services and the Secretariat of Foreign Trade, showed that the sector generated $169 billion last year, up 3% from 2024.

According to Cepea, the increase was supported mainly by a 3.4% rise in export volumes, as the average annual price fell 0.4%.

Among the products that posted growth in shipped volumes in 2025 were beef and pork, pulp, soybeans, cotton and corn. In terms of prices, gains were seen in beef and pork, ethanol, coffee and soybean oil.

China, the European Union and the United States remained the main destinations for Brazilian agribusiness exports. Shipments to China continued to be heavily concentrated in the soy complex, while exports to the European Union were weighted more toward forest products, coffee, fruit and orange juice. The United States, meanwhile, remained especially relevant for wood products, orange juice, ethanol, coffee, fruit, pulp and beef.

Data from DataLiner’s trade partner database, part of Datamar’s data intelligence platform, show China as the main destination for Brazil’s containerized exports, with 40,275 TEUs, up 4%, while the United States ranks second with 20,885 TEUs, but down 34%.

According to Datamar, Brazil’s main exports to China in January 2026 included frozen beef (7,780 TEUs, up 4.8%), cotton (7,043 TEUs, up 79.5%), and chemical wood pulp (6,954 TEUs, up 47%).

The chart below uses data extracted from DataLiner to compare the volume of containers exported to Brazil’s two main trading partners since January 2023:

Exports to the U.S. and China | Jan 2023 – Jan 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Despite the record performance in 2025, the start of 2026 has been surrounded by uncertainty for the sector. While Southern Hemisphere producers finish harvesting the summer crop and move forward with planting the new cycle, market participants are also tracking the effects of the conflict in the Middle East on global logistics and input costs.

According to Cepea, the escalation in tensions has already pushed oil prices higher and complicated logistics operations. The possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz is seen as one of the main concerns, as it is a strategic route for the international trade in energy and fertilizers. According to the research center, about 30% of fertilizers traded globally, especially nitrogen-based products, pass through the region.

In this environment, Brazilian companies in the fertilizer sector have been staying out of the market and avoiding publishing prices while waiting for greater clarity on the conflict’s developments, according to Cepea.

Iran, in turn, gained weight in purchases of Brazilian corn throughout 2025. Secex data show that the country was the main destination for the cereal last year, importing 9 million tonnes, nearly double the 4.33 million tonnes recorded in 2024. Even so, because Brazilian corn shipments usually gain momentum in the second half of the year, the market is for now monitoring the possible effects for the coming months.

In the case of chicken meat, the Middle East remains a strategic region for Brazil. In 2025, the bloc accounted for nearly 25% of Brazilian shipments of the protein. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia ranked first and third, respectively, among the leading destinations for Brazilian chicken exports.

Together, the two countries received more than 877,000 tonnes in 2025, equivalent to more than 12.6% of Brazil’s total export volume, according to data compiled by Cepea.

Source: Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea)

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