Soybean Harvest Begins in Brazil Amidst Expectations of Record Production

28-Jan-2026 09:02 PM

Sorriso. In recent years, Brazil, a Latin American country, has witnessed a tremendous increase in soybean planting area and production. Soybean production there is growing rapidly every year, making it the world's largest producer and exporter of this important oilseed.

Soybean planting in Brazil began vigorously in September 2025, but a lack of rain in November temporarily disrupted planting in the central and southern regions of the country. In some areas, replanting was necessary. By mid-November, only about 70 percent of the designated area had been planted across the country.

However, the situation changed afterward. Sufficient rainfall occurred in various parts of the country, giving farmers the opportunity to accelerate soybean planting. By December 2025, not only was planting completed in most areas, but the crop condition also improved. In the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, where soybean planting takes place last, the process was completed in mid-January.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) increased its estimate of Brazil's soybean planting area from 48.8 million hectares in December 2025 to 49.1 million hectares in its January 2026 monthly report, setting a new record. During the 2024-25 season, the total soybean production area in Brazil was recorded at 47.4 million hectares.

The condition of the soybean crop in Brazil's top producing states—Mato Grosso, Paraná, Goiás, and Mato Grosso do Sul—is reported to be encouraging.

Yields there are expected to be above average. Harvesting of early-sown soybean crops has begun in the northern and central parts of the country, and initial indications suggest that soybean production in the country will reach a new record level for the second consecutive year.