Wheat Imports Reach Highest Volume Since 2007

A favorable exchange rate, with the dollar weakening against the real, along with the extension of reduced export taxes in Argentina, boosted Brazilian wheat imports in the first five months of the year. Imports became the primary source of supply for flour mills during the period, according to the Agribusiness Consultancy of Itaú BBA.

According to the bank’s experts, from January to May 2025, Brazil imported 3 million tons of wheat — the highest volume for the period since 2007 — with 72% of it coming from the neighboring country.

The consultancy had already noted the growth in wheat imports in April in a study of the first quarter of the year. At that time, the volume had reached 1.9 million tons, surpassing figures recorded in 2008. In January, Hamilton Jardim, the president of the Sectorial Chamber of the Productive Chain of Winter Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and director of the Agriculture Federation of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul), warned of the potential rise in external purchases of the cereal.

Below is a historical overview of Brazilian wheat imports since January 2022. The chart was compiled using DataLiner data:

Brazilian Imports of Wheat and Meslin | Jan 2022 – Apr 2025 | WTMT

Source: DataLiner ([click here to request a demo])

Domestic Market

According to Itaú BBA, domestic wheat trading remained limited throughout May and early June. With mills already stocked and domestic supply reduced, prices dropped during the period. In Rio Grande do Sul, prices fell by 4%, with cereals selling at R$70.04 per sack. In Paraná, the average price dropped 2% to R$78.62 per sack as of June 10.

“Many producers who still have wheat in storage chose to postpone sales, waiting for more attractive prices,” the consultancy stated.

With low remaining stocks in the domestic market, attention now turns to the planting of the new crop. In Rio Grande do Sul, excessive moisture in June delayed sowing. According to the Conjunctural Report by Emater-RS/Ascar released Thursday, the 26th, rainfall last week — reaching up to 300 millimeters in some areas — allowed planting to progress by only 2%, reaching 39% of the projected area. At the same time last year, planting had reached 55% of the expected area.

Source: Correio do Povo

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