Number of agricultural exporting companies rises 60% in 10 years

Successive record highs in Brazilian agricultural exports over the past decade have also been driven by a growing number of exporting companies in the sector. The number of agribusiness firms with export activity rose from 1,440 in 2015 to 2,316 in 2025 — an increase of 60.8% over ten years. The data comes from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC) and covers companies of all sizes, from individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs) and small firms to medium and large enterprises.

“The expansion of agricultural production is driving the entry of new companies into international markets for traditional products, while also diversifying the export basket,” said Herlon Alves Brandão, director of the ministry’s Department of Statistics and Foreign Trade Studies.

He added that the adoption of new technologies and the development of new crops are also expanding opportunities in foreign trade, particularly for smaller companies.

Smaller companies lead growth
Smaller agricultural exporters (MEIs, micro and small enterprises) have grown at a significantly faster pace than medium and large companies since 2015.

“This is a very positive indicator, reflecting not only growth but also the formalization and professionalization of the agricultural sector,” said Felippe Serigati, a researcher at FGV Agro.

During the period, the number of micro and MEI agricultural exporters rose from 153 to 443 (+189.5%), while small companies increased from 191 to 434 (+127.2%). By comparison, the number of medium and large firms grew from 1,096 to 1,439, a 31.3% increase.

Smaller companies now total 877, accounting for 37.9% of all agricultural exporters, compared with 62.1% for medium and large firms. A decade ago, MEIs, micro and small companies accounted for 23.9% — a rise of 14 percentage points.

“This also dispels the misconception that only large agribusiness groups export. Smaller players can also access international markets, especially with additional support, whether from Apex or cooperatives,” he said.

According to Serigati, agribusiness is highly heterogeneous, and global markets offer opportunities not only for large companies but also for smaller-scale producers.

“It is not surprising that we now have more than 800 smaller exporting companies alongside this strong growth. We have heard many reports confirming this trend,” he added.

Support for small businesses
Jorge Viana, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), said global demand for food security is rising, with strong dependence on Brazil.

“In addition to supplying commodities, the main challenge for Brazilian agribusiness is to expand exports of higher value-added products while including smaller companies,” he said.

Viana noted that ApexBrasil supports 960 of the country’s 2,300 agricultural exporters — about 41% of the total — a higher share than in other sectors.

Among the initiatives, he highlighted the Exporta Mais Brasil program, which brings foreign buyers to Brazil and has 27 editions planned for 2026, featuring tailored business matchmaking sessions with interpreter support. In 2025, these initiatives generated around R$1 billion in deals involving products such as specialty coffees, honey, nuts, timber, and pulses. “We conduct targeted outreach to identify buyers and bring them to Brazil,” he said.

The strategy also includes the participation of cooperatives in international events and trade fairs, as well as the Export Qualification Program (PEIEX). “Large companies reach international markets quickly, but smaller ones require greater support,” he added.

Viana also highlighted e-commerce as an entry point for small producers. “It is an important showcase and will continue to grow, although regulatory barriers remain,” he concluded.

Diversified export basket
The range of agricultural products expanded by 70% between 2015 and 2025. The number of NCM (Mercosur Common Nomenclature) codes increased from 225 in 2015 to 387 in 2025.

“This reflects both growth and diversification of the export basket,” Brandão said.

There has been greater diversification in fruit exports, including tangerines, almonds, nectarines, pitaya, and lychee, as well as an expansion in vegetables and pulses.

“Exports of seeds for sowing that were not previously part of the export basket have also gained relevance, including radish, castor bean, mustard, and cotton,” he added.

Outlook
Agriculture accounted for 6.9% of Brazil’s exporting companies in 2025, while the manufacturing industry represented 81% of the total, with 33,359 companies. Ten years earlier, the shares were 6.5% and 82%, respectively.

In revenue terms, agriculture increased its share. In 2015, sector exports totaled $35 billion (19.7% of the $177.8 billion total).

By 2025, this figure had more than doubled to $77.4 billion, representing 23.9% of the $323.6 billion total. Over the period, exports grew by around 121%, gaining 4.2 percentage points in share.

The survey considers only exporting companies within the “farm gate” segment, excluding parts of the agroindustry and other segments of the agribusiness value chain.

According to MDIC data, total agribusiness exports reached $169.2 billion in 2025, equivalent to 48.5% of Brazil’s total exports.

Source: Globo Rural

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