Brazil's Soybean Production Estimate Holds Steady at 178 Million Tons

16-Mar-2026 08:14 PM

Rio de Janeiro. Located on the South American continent, Brazil is projected to see its soybean production surge during the 2025-26 season, reaching an all-time high of 178 million tons—a feat that could enable the country to achieve significant success in boosting its exports. The vigorous harvesting of the new crop is currently underway.

Notably, Brazil stands as the world's leading producer and exporter of soybeans. Approximately 70 percent of its soybean exports are shipped exclusively to China. Last week, the country's northern and eastern regions received beneficial rainfall, which aided the late-sown soybean crops.

However, drought-like conditions persist in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, northern Paraná, and São Paulo. Rain is forecast for these regions during the current week.

By the end of last week, soybean harvesting had been completed across 51 percent of the planted area in Brazil; this figure lags significantly behind the 61 percent harvested during the same period last year.

In Mato Grosso—the country's foremost soybean-producing state—harvesting has been completed across more than 89 percent of the planted area. Similarly, in Paraná—the second-largest producing state—55 percent of the crop has been harvested.

Soybean planting typically takes place latest in Rio Grande do Sul. Situated in the southernmost part of Brazil, this state is recognized as the third-largest soybean-producing region.

There, 67 percent of the crop is currently in the flowering and pod-setting stages; 11 percent of the crop has reached maturity, 18 percent remains in the vegetative stage, and less than 1 percent has been harvested.