Santa Catarina sees simultaneous rise in corn imports and exports in 2025

Corn imports in Santa Catarina continue at a rapid pace throughout 2025. From January to October, the state purchased more than 349.1 thousand tonnes, a volume 31.5% higher than in the same period last year, according to data from the Santa Catarina Agricultural Bulletin, prepared by Epagri/Cepa based on Comex Stat/MDIC. In value terms, imported corn moved USD 59.74 million, an increase of 23.5% compared with the 2024 cumulative figure. The origin is attributed to Paraguay, the main external supplier of the cereal to the Santa Catarina market.

The trend of expanding external supply intensified in the second half of the year. In October, Santa Catarina imported more than 63 thousand tonnes, maintaining the upward curve recorded since July, when monthly volumes consistently exceeded the 50-thousand-tonne mark. Epagri/Cepa points out that this movement should continue until November, a period when demand from the poultry, pork, and cattle agribusiness sectors remains strong.

The monthly data illustrate this escalation. From October 2024 to October 2025, imports ranged from lows of 3.4 thousand tonnes (March/25) to highs of 63 thousand tonnes (September/25). In that interval, months such as June, July, and August experienced strong cereal inflows, accompanied by revenues that fluctuated between USD 7.4 million and USD 11.2 million.

Export growth despite internal deficit
In an apparently contradictory scenario, the state — which has an estimated annual deficit of 6 million tonnes of corn to supply its large agro-industrial complex — also expanded grain exports in 2025.

Until October, Santa Catarina shipped 130.1 thousand tonnes, a 243.9% increase compared with the same period in 2024. The exported value also stood out at USD 30.71 million, an increase of 282.33% year on year.

According to Epagri/Cepa, this movement occurs mainly in producing regions close to Santa Catarina’s ports, where export prices become more competitive than domestic prices, especially when the exchange rate favours foreign sales or when there is a logistical mismatch between regional supply and demand.

This dynamic reinforces a structural feature well known in Santa Catarina’s agribusiness: while it is one of the largest corn consumers in the country, due to the weight of the animal protein chains, Santa Catarina does not achieve self-sufficiency and depends on cereal imports from other regions and countries. Occasional exports occur when there are temporary regional surpluses, commercial opportunities, or logistical advantages.

Outlook
With the gradual arrival of the new 2025/26 crop in the state and in Brazil’s Central-West region, the trend is for imported volumes to stabilise from the end of the year. However, the behaviour of the exchange rate, international prices and the final outcome of Santa Catarina’s production will continue to determine the need for external purchases — and, on the other hand, the competitiveness of exports.

For Epagri/Cepa, the 2025 scenario reinforces both the importance of corn as a strategic input for the animal protein chains and the vulnerability resulting from external and interstate dependence on the cereal. Santa Catarina continues to be a state that imports to supply its agribusiness and exports when the market logic allows it — a dynamic balance that moves ports, industries and producers throughout the entire year.

Source: O Presente Rural

Sharing is caring!