Brazil exported 112.5 thousand tons of rice (husk base) in January 2025, with revenue of US$ 35.9 million. The figures represent an increase of 34% in volume and 35% in value compared to the same period last year. The data was compiled by the Brazilian Rice Industry Association (Abiarroz), based on a survey by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC).

In relation to imports, Brazil purchased 118.6 thousand tons of rice (husk base) last month, with an outlay of US$ 40.3 thousand. There was a 43% drop in volume compared to January 2024, and a 54% drop in value.

Processed rice

Shipments of processed rice by the industry abroad, which represented 99.7% of rice exports, totaled 112.3 thousand tons in January 2025, with revenue corresponding to US$ 35.8 million. Both in value and volume, the increase was 34% compared to the same month of the previous year.

The main destinations for processed rice exports in January were Senegal, Gambia, Peru, Cape Verde, the United States, Cuba, Uruguay, Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, and Chile.

Mexico left the list at the beginning of the year, due to the withdrawal of the tariff exemption for the entry of Brazilian processed rice into the North American country. The zero rate for importing the product was provided for in the PACIC — a domestic Mexican policy to contain inflation that was recently changed, no longer including processed rice.

“Currently, only unhulled rice remains exempt from tariffs, while grain processed by the industry has been taxed again at 16%, impacting competitiveness in the Mexican market. In this sense, efforts have been made to ensure equal treatment, especially in relation to other Mercosur countries,” explains Elton Doeler, president of Abiarroz.

With the implementation of PACIC in May 2022, exports to Mexico increased more than tenfold, from 32,000 to 450,000 tons. The country is among the eight priority markets listed by Brazilian Rice — an export project by Abiarroz in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Source: Notícias Agrícolas