Soyabean production in Brazil looks set to reach a record level in 2024/25 while yields in Argentina are expected to fall, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
At 169M tonnes, Brazilian soyabean production in the period was expected to be 10% higher compared to the previous year and 18% above the five-year average, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)’s February World Agricultural Production report said.
Harvested area was estimated at a record 47.4M ha, 3% higher than the previous year and 13% above the five-year average.
Yields were estimated at 3.57 tonnes/ha, a 7% increase compared to the previous year and 5% above the five-year average.
Overall, expectations for yields in Brazil were positive, according to reports by USDA staff and soyabean farmers in southern Mato Grosso and northern Mato Grosso do Sul states.
“Weather and crop conditions have been positive throughout the growing season in much of the centre-west of the country, where approximately 44% of the soyabean crop is grown,” the USDA said.
However, yield potential had been impacted by heat and dryness in southern parts of the country, including Rio Grande do Sul state and parts of Paraná state, although recent rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul had reduced some crop stress.
USDA maintained its forecast for above average soyabean yields in Brazil, leaving its production estimate unchanged.
In Argentina, yields were expected to be down due to hot and dry conditions.
Soyabean production in Argentina in 2024/25 was forecast at 49.0M tonnes, up 2% from the previous year.
Yields were forecast at 2.83 tonnes/ha, 4% lower than the previous year’s volume with a 6% increase in harvested area to 17.3M ha.
