Brazil: Paraná bean harvest may exceed growth expectations

The article reports on the successful bean harvest in Paraná, which has surpassed initial expectations, with the cultivation area likely to expand to 150 thousand hectares, marking the largest bean cultivation in the past five years. The production cost is estimated at R$ 184 per hectare, with an anticipated yield of 30 bags per hectare, potentially rising to 40 bags due to favorable weather. However, concerns have been raised about the stability of Brazilian black bean exports, despite the increase in domestic consumption and the arguably low market prices between R$240 and R$250 for high-quality beans. These concerns are attributed to factors such as high international freight costs, geopolitical tensions, and oligopoly policies in the maritime freight sector, leading to high freight rates and limiting the competitiveness of Brazilian beans in the global market. Producers are advised to strategize their sales throughout the year to mitigate potential supply-demand discrepancies and market fluctuations.