Browse Data and Analysis

For 2023/24, Post forecasts soybean planted area at 45.2 million hectares (ha), and production at 159 million metric tons (MMT), based on a yield of 3.52 mt per ha.

With Brazil continuing to produce record corn crops, Post forecasts corn production for MY 2023/24 at 131 MMT, up 1.6 percent from the current season. However, falling profit margins and ongoing infrastructure and logistics hurdles may impact the next harvest’s outcome.

The Brazilian economy grew by 2.9 percent, largely supported by household consumption, which advanced 4.3 percent in the year despite inflation challenges. The labor market recovery continued as unemployment dropped to 7.9 percent by December 2022.

Post forecasts the Brazilian coffee production for Marketing Year 2023/24 (July-June) at 66.4 million 60-kg bags, an increase of 3.8 million bags compared to the previous crop. Post forecasts arabica production at 44.7 million bags, an increase of 12 percent from the previous season due to favorable weather conditions in growing regions.

Post forecasts that Brazilian producers will expand soybean planted area to reach 45.2 million hectares (ha) in 2023/24 season, up from the estimated 43.5 mn ha planted in the 2022/23 season.

Brazil’s Marketing Year (MY) 2023/24 sugarcane crop is forecast to reach 661.4 million metric tons (MMT), which is 6.5 percent larger than MY 2022/23, because of favorable weather conditions and high sugar prices.

Ecuador's sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is forecast to remain at 530,000 MT, the same as the previous year's estimate, despite a significant increase in planted area of sugar cane.

Brazilian corn and wheat productions continue to exceed expectations, setting record-breaking harvests. In contrast, Brazil is expected to produce its lowest rice crop in 25 years due to a period of prolonged drought in the south and low profitability for farmers.

The food processing industry is an important component of Ecuador’s manufacturing sector. This sector contributes 45 percent to Ecuador’s manufacturing gross domestic product and grossed $12 billion in net sales.

The United States and Brazil are world leaders in agricultural research, and our collaboration over the last several decades has been a cornerstone of the close relationship between our two countries.

The Brazilian Food Processors' Association (ABIA) reported that the food processing sector in Brazil had revenue of US$209 billion in 2022, showing a growth of 16.6 percent compared to the previous year.

In 2022, the Government of Ecuador continued to support floor prices for local production of corn, rice, and wheat as well as began subsidizing the price of fertilizers for small producers.