Venezuela unrest could hit Brazil rice exports

The political instability currently unfolding in Venezuela could also have ripple effects on agribusiness in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state. The Caribbean country is one of the top buyers of rice from Brazil, and Rio Grande do Sul is the country’s largest rice-producing state.

Data stemming from the Foreign Trade Chamber of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade show that, from January to November last year, Venezuela was the second-largest destination for Brazilian rice shipments.

“We are talking about an important customer for rice from Rio Grande do Sul, which needs to be shipped out because of domestic prices. Venezuela’s situation is something that needs to be closely monitored to see how it develops,” said Renan Hein dos Santos, international relations adviser at the Rio Grande do Sul Federation of Agriculture (Farsul).

With a 22% larger rice harvest in 2025, Brazil faced a sharp decline in prices, making exports critical to balancing domestic supply.

Over the past five years, Venezuela’s position in the ranking has fluctuated, but it has consistently remained among the four largest buyers of Brazilian rice, most of which originates in Rio Grande do Sul.

Rice exports to Venezuela

Brazil

January to November, in thousand tonnes

• 2021: 98.9
• 2022: 190.97
• 2023: 208.74
• 2024: 106.19
• 2025: 165.72

Rio Grande do Sul

January to November, in thousand tonnes

• 2021: 75.25
• 2022: 180.22
• 2023: 180.57
• 2024: 106.19
• 2025: 165.72

Source: Gaúcha ZH

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