Rio Grande do Sul wheat sowing hits 87% as agro exports generate $1.24 bn in June

The wheat seed‑bed in Rio Grande do Sul reached 87% of the area planned for the 2026 crop, up from 83% the week before, according to Emater. Planting progressed despite cool temperatures, mild frosts and limited sunlight that temporarily slowed vegetative growth. High soil moisture in some zones caused localized flooding, delayed herbicide and fertilizer applications, and increased monitoring for leaf diseases. Emater projects a total wheat area of about 814,220 ha with an average yield of 2,701 kg/ha, and notes a slight 0.11% fall in the price of a 60‑kg sack.

In June 2026 the state's agribusiness sector recorded exports worth R$6.39 billion (US$1.24 billion), a 3.9% rise over the same month a year earlier, even though the physical volume shipped fell 2.2% to 1.76 million tonnes. Soybeans remained the leading product, with export value up 15.2% and a strong performance from soymeal. Revenues from chicken surged 65.6% as sanitary barriers eased, while live cattle sales jumped 1,567% thanks to renewed demand from Turkey. Rice exports grew 17.4% as the market expanded into Central America, the Caribbean and Africa. China continued as the main buyer, accounting for 30.2% of total shipments, but buyers such as the United States, Belgium, South Korea and India broadened the market base. The first half of 2026 saw total agribusiness exports reach R$35.23 billion (US$6.84 billion), an 8.3% increase from the previous year.