MELON/CEPEA: With the onset of the off-season, exports decline in April

Brazilian melon exports declined again in April 2026. According to Comex Stat data, shipment volume fell 47% compared to March, totaling 11,500 tons. Export revenue also dropped 48%, reaching US$8 million (FOB). The main destinations for the fruit were Spain (31.9%), the United Kingdom (31.6%), and the Netherlands (30.5%).

Container shipment volumes also point to a decline. Datamar data shows that 5,675 TEUs were shipped abroad in the first four months of 2016, down 5% from a year earlier. The chart below compares the volumes recorded over the past three years:

Melon Exports | Jan-Apr | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The contraction in export volume is mainly linked to the end of the 2025/26 crop season in Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, as well as the beginning of the industry’s off-season period. Another factor contributing to the decline in shipments was the Central American harvest, where crops are showing better conditions compared to 2025, increasing competition in the international market.

According to Hortifrúti/Cepea collaborators, the fruit exported in April still consisted of remaining volumes from the 2025/26 campaign. Due to heavier rainfall during the final months of the season — especially in February and March — the fruit required a longer “quarantine” period to recover quality standards before being shipped to international markets. In addition, volumes harvested during the off-season allowed exported quantities in April to remain 17% higher than in the same period last year, while export revenue increased 20% year-on-year. With the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign, some producers opted to resume operations only in late May and early June, when planting activities for the 2026/27 season begin.

This scenario is expected to limit export volumes in the coming months. For May, the approaching end of the Central American season — expected during the current month — may reduce competition for Brazilian fruit. However, due to lower domestic supply and the ongoing Spanish season in Almería, shipment volumes are not expected to increase significantly. There are also concerns regarding rising production costs for the 2026/27 season amid the Middle East conflict. Higher expenses for agricultural inputs such as crop covers and pesticides, in addition to increased freight costs, may become further limiting factors for exports in the months ahead.

Source: HF Brasil

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