Rice and beans cheaper, but consumption continues to fall

Even with lower prices, the consumption of rice and beans continues to decline in Brazil, according to data released by CNN Brasil. From January to June 2025, per capita consumption of rice fell by 4.7%, while that of beans had a contraction of 4.2%. This trend is not recent: since 1985, the consumption of rice per person has dropped from 40 to 28.2 kilograms per year, and that of beans has gone from 19 to 12.8 kilograms, potentially even lower, according to market estimates. According to Sérgio Cardoso, director of operations at Itaobi Representações, the scenario worries the entire production chain, which faces high inventories and increasingly tight margins. For him, the reduction in consumption is linked to changes in the Brazilian lifestyle: smaller families, less time available for cooking, an increase in meals outside the home, and substitution by ready-made and ultra-processed foods. In this context, the expert states that the drop in consumption represents a challenge not ...