Agricultural production
Estimated production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds of March 2026 is record in time series
April 14, 2026 09h00 AM | Last Updated: April 14, 2026 11h31 AM
The March 2026 estimate for the national harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds reached 348.4 million tonnes, 0.7% higher than that obtained in 2025 when it reached 346.1 million tonnes, an increase of 2.3 million tonnes. It increased by 4.3 million tonnes (1.2%) in relation to the previous month. The data come from the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA), released today (14) by the IBGE.
Rice, corn and soybeans, which are the three main products in this group, represented 92.9% of the production estimate and accounted for 87.6% of the area to be harvested. In relation to the previous year, there was growth of 1.0% in the area to be harvested for soybeans; 3.3% for corn; and 7.0% for sorghum, with declines of 6.9% in upland cottonseed; 10.1% for paddy rice; and 3.3% for beans.
In the area to be harvested, there was an increase of 1.6 million hectares compared to the area harvested in 2025, an annual growth of 2.0%, corresponding to 83.2 million hectares. In relation to the previous month, the area to be harvested increased by 265,837 hectares (0.3%). The estimated production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for March 2026 was a record in the IBGE time series.
“The March estimate is a record in the IBGE time series. With the monthly increase in production in all states in the Central-West Region. However, the drop in the harvest in Rio Grande do Sul, which suffered from a lack of rainfall and high temperatures in the months of January and February, draws attention. Despite the drop, compared to 2025, the Rio Grande do Sul harvest is 34.6% higher,” pointed out the LSPA manager, Carlos Barradas.
Mato Grosso remains leader in grain production
The estimated production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds showed a positive annual variation for the South (7.1%) and Northeast (5.6%) Regions; and negative for the Central-West (-2.3%), the Southeast (-1.9%) and the North (-3.2%). As for the monthly variation, the production increased: North (0.3%), Central-West (3.9%) and Northeast (1.3%). In the Southeast there was stability (0.0%), while the South showed a decline (-2.9%).
In the distribution of the production across Federation Units, Mato Grosso leads as the largest national grain producer, with a share of 31.0%, followed by Paraná (13.7%), Rio Grande do Sul (10.8%), Goiás (10.7%), Mato Grosso do Sul (8.2%) and Minas Gerais (5.4%), which, together, represented 79.8% of the total.
Soybean is expected to set a new record in the time series in 2026
The estimate for soybean production reached a new record in the time series in 2026, adding up to 173.7 million tonnes, an increase of 0.3% compared to the previous month and 4.6% higher compared to the quantity obtained in the previous year. The cultivated area should grow by 1.0% and reach 48.3 million hectares, while the average yield, of 3,603 kg/ha, should grow by 3.6% compared to the previous year.
“The projections indicate a historical harvest, driven by favorable weather conditions in most of the producing Federation Units and the partial recovery of the Rio Grande do Sul harvest,” highlights the LSPA manager, Carlos Barradas.
Mato Grosso, the largest national producer of the oilseed, estimated a production of 50.5 million tonnes, an increase of 4.1% compared to the estimate in February and 0.7% compared to the volume harvested in the previous year. Mato Grosso do Sul expects a production of 15.6 million tonnes, a growth of 4.5% compared to February. Paraná, with a production of 22.1 million tonnes, should have the second largest volume harvested in Brazil, with a decline of 0.9% compared to the previous month. Rio Grande do Sul estimated a production of 18.4 million tonnes, a decline of 11.5% compared to the previous month. In Santa Catarina, the production should reach 3.1 million tonnes, an increase of 1.0% compared to the previous month.
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