Rice faces price drop and planting delays

The Brazilian rice market has been facing a series of challenges, with falling prices and difficulties in sales, while the start of the 2025/26 crop season is delayed due to adverse weather conditions in the South of the country. According to an analysis by Itaú BBA, low profitability and the excess of domestic supply have led producers to migrate to other crops, such as soybeans. In September, average rice prices closed at R$ 63.56/sc of 50 kg, down 7.1% from August. In the first ten days of October, the cereal was traded at R$ 59.24/sc, breaking the floor of R$ 60/sc. The need for cash to purchase inputs stimulated producers to sell more rice, increasing pressure on prices, while industrial demand remains contained due to tight margins. Exports, initially pointed out as an alternative to reduce the domestic surplus, did not materialize. In September, shipments fell 55% compared to August, with imports exceeding exports — 95 thousand tons were imported against 68.5 thousand tons ...