Current scenario projects an increase in milk prices in Paraná, according to Deral.

The Conjunctural Bulletin released this Wednesday (1st) by the Department of Rural Economy of Paraná (Deral), linked to the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply (Seab), reveals a scenario of adjustments in the field. The highlight of the period was the dairy sector, which presented an increase in prices for the final product. In retail, long-life milk rose 17% and powdered milk 8.8%, with the product sold at an average of R$ 4.52. According to the veterinarian and Deral analyst Thiago De Marchi, the price paid to the producer does not yet reflect the increase observed on supermarket shelves, but the outlook is already positive. “The impact is not immediate for the producer due to payment terms that follow their procedures in the industries. But the trend is that a higher value will be paid per liter of milk delivered,” he explains. PROTEINS – According to the bulletin, the animal protein segment continues to show strength, with emphasis on the efficiency of Paraná's pig farming. Over the past ten years, pork production in the state has grown by 57.7%, jumping from 777,740 tons in 2016 to 1.23 million tons in 2025. The most relevant fact is that this productive growth surpassed the expansion of the herd, indicating a qualitative gain with the slaughter of heavier animals. Nationally, the scenario is similar, with meat production growing by 52.4% in the same period. In the foreign market, poultry maintains a robust export performance, with Paraná leading in foreign exchange revenues. In the first two months of 2026, Brazilian chicken meat exports yielded US$1.788 billion, a 7.7% increase in revenue. Paraná alone accounts for 42.9% of the total volume exported by the country. The turkey sector registered a 107.6% jump in national foreign exchange revenue, driven by the appreciation of the average price of "in natura" meat, which rose 97.8% compared to the previous year. ONION – Onion cultivation exemplifies the positive impact of technology applied in the field. Even with a current 12.8% reduction in planted area compared to 2015, Brazil registered a 16.1% increase in harvested volume in 2024, which means a 33.1% increase in productivity. This movement generated repercussions in the prices received by the producer and those practiced for the final consumer. In Paraná, in 2026, the price received by the producer jumped from R$ 0.82/kg in February to R$ 1.18/kg in March, a growth of 44.9%. The consumer also felt a variation in less than 30 days. Brazilian onion prices at the end of March are 42.9% higher than at the beginning of the same month, rising from R$ 1.75/kg to R$ 2.50/kg. CORN – Planting of the second corn crop for 2025/26 is nearing completion, reaching 99% of the projected 2.86 million hectares. Although 91% of the area is in good condition, Deral warns that March was unfavorable for the crop due to irregular rainfall and heat waves. Approximately 8% of the crops are in average condition and 1% in poor condition, which may already reflect a final result lower than initially projected for this cycle. CASSAVA – Even with a challenging scenario and high leasing costs, cassava farming in Paraná is expected to grow by 6% in harvested area by 2026, with production potentially exceeding 4 million tons. The bulletin emphasizes that the crop is going through a period of strategic adjustment. With prices 21% lower in this first quarter compared to the same period in 2025, producers have opted to maintain crops for a second cycle, aiming to gain in productivity and compensate for narrow margins.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.