Brazilian Conab reduces the estimate for the grain harvest in the country in the 2022/23 season to 310.9 million tonnes

Brazilian grain production is expected to reach 310.9 million tonnes in this 2022/23 harvest, according to a new estimate released this Thursday by the National Supply Company (Conab).

The volume is lower than that projected last month (312.2 million tonnes), due to the weather problems that mainly affect the state of Rio Grande do Sul, but exceeds that of the 2021/22 cycle by 14.5% and represents a new historical record.

“The start of sowing was slightly delayed, influenced by excessive rainfall and low temperatures in parts of the states in the South and Southeast regions. There were also water restrictions, combined with low soil moisture in part of the Midwest region and in the Matopiba (Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí and Bahia states) region, but planting was completed within the agricultural calendar”, says the superintendent of Agricultural Information at Conab, Candice Romero Santos, in a note.

Flagship of the Brazilian agribusiness, soybean sets the record. Conab predicts that oilseed production will reach 152.7 million tonnes, 0.5% less than calculated in the report released in December (153.5 million) but 22.2% above last season’s total, affected by the drought in the southern regions and in part of Rio Grande do Sul.

For the first corn crop, the projection also fell, from 27.2 million to 26.5 million tonnes. In the case of rice, the forecast for a harvest of 10.4 million tonnes was maintained, slightly below the volume recorded in 2021/22 (10.8 million). The total bean harvest, adding the three leguminous harvests, is still projected at almost 3 million tonnes.

Conab also pointed out that the wheat harvest planted last year is already over. And reached the record of 9.8 million tonnes, with an increase of 27.2% compared to the previous cycle, thanks to good weather conditions for crops.

With information from Valor Econômico