Soybean Yield Fluctuations Persist in Brazil

19-Jan-2026 12:40 PM

Belem. Brazil, located in South America, remains the world's leading producer and exporter of soybeans. However, due to climate change, deforestation, extreme heat, uneven rainfall, and drought, the average soybean yield in the country continues to fluctuate.

By 2023, soybean production there reached approximately 152 million tons, and exports also increased significantly due to access to the vast Chinese market. Exports rose to $53 billion, representing 16 percent of its total agricultural exports.

Between 2020 and 2022, the area planted with soybeans in Brazil increased from 37.2 million hectares to 41.2 million hectares.

During this period, the rate of clearing forests and pastures for soybean cultivation also accelerated, with the area dedicated to this purpose increasing from 635,000 hectares to 794,000 hectares.

However, despite the expansion of planted area, approximately 14 million tons of soybeans were lost during this period due to the effects of the La Niña weather pattern.

In some regions, the decline in crop productivity was even greater than the increase in planted area. Approximately 95 percent of Brazil's agricultural land is rain-fed, and in such a situation,

a severe drought could pose a significant threat to soybean production. In fact, the rapid rate of deforestation and clearing of pastures is continuously increasing the risk of rainfall deficits.

In the current 2025-26 season, with an increase in planted area and favorable weather conditions with good rainfall,

soybean production is projected to reach an all-time high of 177 million tons. However, the government needs to take some effective steps to ensure the sustainability of this trend in the future.