Brazil's Soy Exports Reach Record 114 Million Tons in 2026, Straining Infrastructure

Brazil is set to export a record 114 million tonnes of soy in 2026, about 5 % above the previous high, according to the National Association of Cereal Exporters (Anec). The surge has intensified pressure on storage facilities, roads, railways and port terminals, with the Santos port reporting a 5.05 % increase in total cargo and soy accounting for 25.61 million tonnes of the load.

July 2026 saw soy shipments rise 9.3 % year‑on‑year to 13.4 million tonnes, generating US$ 5.874 billion in revenue, a 17.4 % increase. Average prices per tonne climbed 7.4 % to US$ 438.30. Despite strong export volumes, the sector’s GDP fell 2.01 % in Q1 2026 as falling commodity prices outweighed record harvests.

Mato Grosso do Sul’s agribusiness grew 12.4 % in the first half of 2026, with soy revenue reaching US$ 1.98 billion, up 30.5 % year‑on‑year, and beef exports hitting US$ 1.17 billion, up 47.9 %. Domestic chicken prices slipped amid weak demand, though exports rose 6.6 % in July. U.S. imports of Brazilian beef more than doubled in July 2026 to 26 kilotonnes, setting a new monthly record.

Chicago soy futures slipped slightly on Friday, closing at US$ 11.76 per bushel, but were buoyed by recent Chinese purchases of at least ten cargoes, signalling continued demand ahead of President Xi Jinping’s planned U.S. visit.