Brazilian crop production down 7.2% in 2024
Brazil's 2024 harvest yielded 292.7 million tons of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds, marking a 7.2 percent decline compared to 2023. The Brazilian statistics agency IBGE released the estimate on Tuesday (Jan. 14).
The expected result for 2024 is 22.7 million tons below the 2023 harvest, which reached 315.4 million tons. The last time Brazil experienced a drop in the harvest occurred in 2021, with a fall of 0.4 percent.
IBGE provides monthly estimates of Brazil's planted area and agricultural production. The latest update marked the tenth and final forecast for the 2024 harvest. The actual figures for Brazil's harvest will be published in the Municipal Agricultural Survey, scheduled for release in September.
In 2024, the harvested area reached 79 million hectares, a 1.6 percent increase compared to 2023—an expansion of 1.2 million hectares. However, alongside the drop in production, this growth also highlights a decline in crop productivity.
IBGE's agriculture manager, Carlos Guedes, attributed the drop in production to adverse weather conditions. “Soybean planting was delayed due to weather challenges, particularly in the Central-West and South regions. Excessive rainfall in the South, including flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, destroyed rice, soybean, and first-crop corn Fields [the cereal has two annual harvests]. Additionally, high temperatures and low rainfall during the second crop season affected corn and wheat,” he explained.
Products
Soybeans remain Brazil's leading agricultural product, with an estimated production of 144.9 million tons, followed by corn at 114.7 million tons. Rice ranks third with 10.6 million tons. Combined, these three crops represent 92.3 percent of the estimated production and 87.2 percent of the area to be harvested.
In terms of regions, the Central-West dominates cereal, legume, and oilseed production, contributing 144.6 million tons, or 49.4 percent of the total. The South follows with 78.3 million tons (26.8%), while the Southeast and Northeast each produce 25.8 million tons (8.8%). The North accounts for 18.2 million tons (6.2%).
Estimate for 2025
IBGE also released its forecast for the 2025 harvest, projecting a total of 322.6 million tons. This represents a 10.2 percent increase compared to 2024, adding 29.9 million tons to the country's agricultural output.
According to Guedes, the optimism stems from the recovery of the soybean crop, which faced significant challenges in 2024. "This is complemented by favorable weather conditions across much of Brazil, despite a delayed planting season. Producers have been able to catch up by leveraging advanced technology. Additionally, rainfall has been adequate in most key growing regions, benefiting crops currently in the field, including soybeans and first-crop corn," he explained.
