Brazil sees 14% surge in vegetable prices in Southeast region in May, study finds

A Neogrid study attributes a sharp rise in vegetable prices across Brazil to unusually low May temperatures that reduced crop yields. Nationally, vegetable prices jumped an average of 15.1% in May, with a 14.3% increase in the Southeast, moving the average price from R$ 6.89 to R$ 7.93 between April and May. The surge made vegetables the main driver of food‑price inflation for the month.

Other food categories also rose: powdered milk up 9% (R$ 40.47 to R$ 44.10), beans up 5%, tomato sauce up 3.3%, and mineral water up 3.5%. Conversely, eggs fell 6.5% and several items such as pasta, coffee, soy oil and pork saw modest declines, partially offsetting the overall pressure on household budgets.

Since December 2025, vegetable prices have climbed 44.2% to R$ 7.93, outpacing other staples. Analysts warn that a potential El Niño event could further destabilise supply chains, emphasizing the need for better demand forecasting and inventory visibility to mitigate future price spikes.