Exports of agricultural inputs hit a record in the first quarter, totaling US$188 million.

Brazilian exports of agricultural inputs – chemical pesticides, bio-inputs, and seeds – totaled US$188 million in the first quarter of 2026, a record for the period. In volume, approximately 40,000 tons of products were shipped. This value represents a 7.4% increase compared to the same period last year and reflects the sector's growing international presence. Agricultural seeds reached US$63 million, a third of total foreign sales, the best result for the first three months of the year. This highlight reinforces the trajectory observed over the last five years. This data is highlighted in the April report from CropData, the data portal of CropLife Brasil. "Brazil has consolidated its position as an exporter of agricultural inputs, and the figures for the first quarter of 2026 prove that the sector is in full expansion, with historical records and an important new development: diversification. The export portfolio of seeds has grown and been renewed. Crops that previously barely appeared in the statistics are now reaching new markets on four continents. This movement is not isolated; it follows the trajectory of Brazilian agribusiness, which continues to break significant records each quarter," analyzed Renato Gomides, executive manager of CropLife Brazil. The opening and expansion of new markets contributed to the performance of the sectors, assessed the executive manager. Of the total value of exported inputs, chemical pesticides represented US$ 105 million and bio-inputs, US$ 21 million. :: Foreign Trade In 2022, seed exports were concentrated in forage crops, corn, and vegetables, which represented 92% of total sales. In 2026, these crops will still lead, but with a reduced share of 82%, giving space to new products. In this first quarter, for example, Brazil exported turnip seeds to Uruguay, castor beans to Congo and Kenya, sorghum to Bolivia, and melons to the United States—moves that already represent 14% of the segment's external sales. From another perspective, imports of chemical pesticides totaled US$2.3 billion, a decrease of 11% compared to the first quarter of 2025. The contraction was observed in all segments—formulated products, technical products, and raw materials—and accompanied by an 8% reduction in the imported volume. This movement, already noted previously, reflects, among other factors, the greater participation of generic products in external purchases, contributing to the fall in average prices. :: Product Registrations In the first quarter of 2026, the chemical pesticides segment accounted for 186 products with active registrations. Of this total, 107 are formulated products and 79 are technical products. Among the 19 active biological registrations, the breakdown shows 12 new microbiological agent products, 4 macrobiological agent products, and 3 biochemical agent products. The CropLife Brasil data uses official information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. :: Bioinputs The bioinputs market, which achieved unprecedented performance in 2025, maintained its growth trajectory. In January 2026, the sector generated R$ 445 million, a 3% increase compared to the previous year. The treated area also stood out, with 12 million hectares in the month — an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. The bioinsecticide segment led in both market value (R$ 264 million) and area (5.3 million hectares).

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.