Brazil exported 1.1 million tons of paddy rice in the first half of the year, a volume 83% higher than that recorded in the same period of 2025. Foreign exchange revenue generated by exports reached US$266 million, a 35% increase year-on-year. The figures, compiled by the Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz) from data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), reflect the recovery of domestic supply after losses caused by floods in Rio Grande do Sul in 2024. According to the association, the record harvest of 2025 allowed for the normalization of stocks and the resumption of regular shipments.
Performance by destination and segment
Venezuela and Senegal led the purchases of Brazilian rice in the first half of the year, consolidating the geographic diversification of exports. Rice processed by the industry accounted for more than half of the total volume exported in the first half of the year, with 643,900 tons shipped, a 65.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
Trade balance and imports
On the import side, Brazil acquired 796,400 tons of paddy rice in the first half of the year, with an expenditure of US$182.2 million. The imported volume grew 13% compared to the same period in 2025, while the value decreased by 15%. Abiarroz projects that the growth trend in exports will continue in the second half of the year, supported by comfortable domestic supply and strong demand in traditional markets. The resumption of sales to the United States, in particular, is seen as a sign of the competitiveness of Brazilian rice in the global grain market.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.