Brazil Still Imports More Rice Than It Sells

The first half of 2025 presented relevant changes in the Brazilian rice trade flow. While exports increased, grain imports receded. Even so, Brazil continues with a negative rice trade balance, having acquired a larger volume than it shipped to other countries. According to Secex data analyzed by Cepea (Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics), between January and June of this year, 613.17 thousand tons of rice in husk equivalent were exported, representing a 10.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Imports, in turn, receded by 12.8%, totaling 694.5 thousand tons in the semester's accumulated total. Despite the drop in external purchases, the country still depends on imports to supply the domestic market. The scenario highlights the importance of monitoring supply policies and incentives for national production, especially after the climate impacts recorded in the southern region in recent months. At the beginning of July, the paddy rice market in Rio Grande do ...