Brazilian agribusiness had a record first quarter in 2026, with exports exceeding US$38 billion.

Brazilian agribusiness exports totaled US$38.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 0.91% compared to the same period in 2025. This is the highest value in the historical series for the months of January to March. In turn, imports in the sector totaled US$5 billion (a decrease of 3.31% compared to the first quarter of 2025), resulting in a surplus of US$33 billion in the period (an increase of 1.81% compared to the same period last year).

The performance reflects, among other factors, the strategy of opening and expanding markets. Between January and March of this year, 30 new markets were opened for Brazilian agricultural products, adding to the more than 500 markets opened in the first three years of management. In March, exports totaled US$15.41 billion, closing the sector's historic quarter.

Despite the increase in export volume of 3.8%, which demonstrates greater access for Brazilian products to foreign markets, there was a drop in the average price of 2.8%. Among the factors associated with this decline is the reduction in the average price of some commodities in the export basket, such as raw cane sugar, uncarded and uncombed cotton, corn, and soybean meal.

In the first quarter, China was the main destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports, accounting for 29.81% of exports, with US$11.33 billion (an increase of US$510 million, or +4.71% compared to the first quarter of 2025). The European Union came in second, with +14.91% of exports and US$5.67 billion (a decrease of US$5.6 million, or -0.1%, compared to the first quarter of 2025), followed by the United States, with +5.91% of exports and US$2.24 billion (a decrease of US$1.02 billion, or -31.2%, compared to the first quarter of 2025).

Besides China, the markets that contributed most to the growth of Brazilian agribusiness exports in the first three months of the year were India (US$908 million, increase of US$291 million, increase of +47.11% of the market share and increase of 2.41% of the market share), the Philippines (US$469 million, increase of US$191 million, increase of +68.31% of the market share and increase of 1.21% of the market share), Mexico (US$709 million, increase of US$126 million, increase of +21.71% of the market share and increase of 1.91% of the market share), Thailand (US$635 million, increase of US$122 million, increase of +23.81% of the market share and increase of 1.71% of the market share), Japan (US$15T 832 million, an increase of US$ 114 million, an increase of +15.8% and an increase of 2.2% share), Chile (US$ 603 million, an increase of US$ 108 million, an increase of +21.8% and a share of 1.6%) and Turkey (US$ 1.06 billion, an increase of US$ 105 million, an increase of +11% and a share of 2.8%).

In turn, the six main exporting sectors of agribusiness in the first quarter of 2026 were: soy complex (US$12.13 billion, 31.81% of total exports and an increase of 11.51% compared to the same period in 2025); animal proteins (US$18.12 billion, 21.31% of total exports and an increase of 21.81% compared to the same period in 2025); forestry products (US$13.94 billion, 10.31% of total exports and a decrease of 10.11% compared to the same period in 2025); coffee (US$13.32 billion, 8.71% of total exports and a decrease of 19.21% compared to the same period in 2025); sugar and ethanol complex (US$ 2.33 billion, 6.1% of total exports and a decrease of 22.4% compared to the same period in 2025); cereals, flours and preparations (US$ 2.08 billion, 5.5% of total exports and an increase of 8.6% compared to the same period in 2025).

During this period, there were also records for fresh beef in value (US$3.98 billion, 10.5% of total exports and an increase of 37.3% compared to the first quarter of 2025) and in quantity (702 thousand tons, 1.2% of total exports and an increase of 19.7% compared to the first quarter of 2025). Fresh pork also hit records in value (US$846 million, 2% of total exports and an increase of 16.4% compared to the first quarter of 2025) and in quantity (336 thousand tons, 0.6% of total exports and an increase of 15.3% compared to the first quarter of 2025).

In both cases, the performance coincides with the strategy of opening and expanding markets. Beef and its derivatives have accumulated 31 openings since 2023. Pork and its derivatives, in turn, have already totaled 21 openings, with four in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

There were also record quantities for soybeans (23.47 million tons, 39.9% of the total volume exported and an increase of 5.9% compared to the first quarter of 2025), soybean meal (5.43 million tons, 9.2% of the total volume exported and an increase of 5.1%) and cotton (935 thousand tons, 1.6% of the total volume exported and an increase of 0.6% compared to the first quarter of 2025).

The effect of the new market openings also began to appear more clearly in 2026. Hay has accumulated 13 market openings since 2024. In the case of yerba mate, after 15 new market openings since the beginning of the current administration, exports grew by more than 25.81% compared to the first quarter of 2023. The United States, Japan, and Canada are among the destinations that have started importing the product.

There were also record exports of other non-traditional products in the export portfolio, such as dried, crushed or powdered piper pepper (US$ 160 million; +10.1% compared to January-March/2025), dried beans (US$ 65 million; +2.9% in value and 87,890 tons; +22.9% in volume), other animal feed (US$ 104.75 million; +8.6%), rice (573,000 tons; +152%), chicken giblets (US$ 197 million; +9.1% in value and 132,000 tons; +7.6% in volume) and live cattle (US$ 384 million; +70.8% in value and 140,000 tons; +49.9% (by volume).

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André de Paula, the result reflects the strength of the sector. “This result shows the strength of a sector that continues to be built with work and investment over many years. Brazilian agribusiness today occupies a prominent position in international trade because there is production, there is science, there is animal health, and there is the capacity to respond to market demands. I want to reaffirm that, in our administration, we will continue working to strengthen this base and expand opportunities for Brazilian products abroad.”

Agribusiness exports reached US$15.4 billion in March, accounting for almost half of the country's total exports.

Exports reached US$15.41 billion and imports of agricultural products totaled US$1.87 billion, resulting in a surplus of US$13.54 billion for the month. Compared to March 2025, average export prices for Brazilian agribusiness products showed growth of 0.11%, while the volume shipped decreased by 0.8%. The value of exports was 0.7% lower than that observed in the same month last year.

Among the main exporting sectors of Brazilian agribusiness in March, the following stand out: soybean complex, with US$$ 6.8 billion, a 44.1% share and an increase of 4.3% compared to March 2025; meat, with US$$ 2.83 billion, an 18.4% share and an increase of 19.5% compared to March 2025; forestry products, with US$1.31 billion, an 8.5% share and a decrease of 17.1% compared to March 2025; coffee, with US$1.1 billion, a 7.2% share and a decrease of 28.0% compared to March 2025; and the sugar and ethanol complex, with US$ 702 million, a 4.6% share, and a decrease of 30.1% compared to March 2025.

China remained the main destination for Brazilian agricultural exports, with US$5.57 billion and a 361% share. The European Union followed in second place, with US$2.15 billion and a 14% share. The United States came in third, with US$736 million and a 4.8% share. Among the countries that contributed most to export growth in the month were Egypt, with US$388 million and an increase of 98.5%; Mexico, with US$372 million and an increase of 38.2%; and India, with US$365 million and an increase of 59.4%

In addition to the traditionally most exported products, several items outside this group registered growth in March, reinforcing the potential for diversification of the Brazilian export portfolio. Among them, the following stand out:

• Dry Beans – record in value (US$$ 20 million; +32% compared to March/2025) and quantity (27.3 thousand tons; +51.3% compared to March/2025);
• Peanut kernels – record quantity (19.3 thousand tons; +27.8% compared to March/2025);
• Corn oil – record in value (US$ 14.8 million; +420% compared to March/2025) and quantity (12.4 thousand tons; +321.7% compared to March/2025);
• Beer – record value (US$ 18.5 million; +14.6% compared to March/2025);
• Chocolate and food preparations containing cocoa – record value (US$ 17.8 million; +5.3% compared to March/2025);
• Fresh watermelons – record in value (US$ 13.3 million; +179% compared to March/2025) and quantity (17 thousand tons; +126.2% compared to March/2025);
• Manufactured tobacco – record in value (US$ 20 million; +83.9% compared to March/2025) and quantity (3.4 thousand tons; +51.1% compared to March/2025);
• Wood-derived essences – record quantity (3.2 thousand tons; +6.2% compared to March/2025);
• Dog and cat food – record in value (US$ 10 million; +23.2% compared to March/2025) and quantity (7.5 thousand tons; +12.5% compared to March/2025).

According to Luís Rua, Secretary of Trade and International Relations at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), the performance is related to the market access agenda. “The quarter's result reflects the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness, but also an ongoing effort to open and expand markets. It is this effort that allows us to consolidate already relevant destinations, expand the market share of Brazilian products abroad, and provide greater predictability to international agricultural trade.”