China Suspends Imports From 3 Brazilian Meat Plants
Adecoagro, food production company, has started rice harvest in the province of Corrientes with expectations of record yields of more than 8 tonnes per hectare. (Adecoagro)
Heavy rainfall for more than 15 days have delayed corn harvest in the Northern Region of Buenos Aires, with only 15% of the area harvested. (Rosario Stock Exchange)
Argentine Rural Confederations advocates reducing taxes on production, citing the impact of the 21% VAT on Patagonian wool, which results in a recovery of only 7% after one year. (CRA)
Supporting direct assistance programs for farmers in the State of Santa Catarina will increase by 28% in 2025, totaling US$ 44.6 million to benefit around 35,000 family farmers. The resources will be directed to the Rural Development Fund and the State Animal Sanitation Fund, focusing on investments in production systems and sanitary improvements. (State Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock)
China has temporarily suspended beef imports from three Brazilian meatpacking plants after China General Administration of Customs video audits identified non-compliances. The companies have been notified and are taking corrective measures. Brazil has 126 authorized plants, and the government is in talks to reverse the suspension. (GACC, MAPA)
Study conducted in the State of Rio de Janeiro showed the presence of bees in the production of organic rice by family farmers increases yields by around 50%, both in terms of the quantity and weight of the grains. (Embrapa; Unirio; Faperj)
21 Brazilian companies were authorized to export sesame seeds to China. Authorization was officially granted in March of 2025, following agreements made at the end of 2024 during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Brazil. Currently, Brazil is the 7th in the global sesame export rankings, accounting for 5.31% of global trade, with key production in states like Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Pará. (MAPA)
The State of Piauí will receive US$ 1.12 million to support family farmers through the Food Acquisition Program, under the Purchase with Simultaneous Donation modality. Conab will purchase 973 tonnes of food produced by 507 farmers, which will be distributed to food security institutions, benefiting 62,000 people in situations of food insecurity. (Conab)
Federal District, achieved a record soybean harvest in the 2024/2025 season, with a yield of 80 sacks per hectare, surpassing the previous average of 60 to 70 sacks. Each sack weighs 60 kg. (Seagri-DF)
Family farming represents 61% of the 71,000 farms in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, but occupies only 4% of the productive area. 85% of these properties have less than 50 hectares, with cassava, corn and banana as the main crops, while livestock stands out in the production of milk and eggs. (Semadesc; Seaf; Sebrae/MS)
GDP grew 3.4% in 2024, reaching US$ 2.02 trillion, with notable contributions from services and industrial sectors, marking the highest annual growth since 2021. GDP per capita increased by 3%, totaling US$ 9,522. Household consumption rose 4.8%, driven by government cash transfer programs. (IBGE)
Delegation with members of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors of Uzbekistan visited Chile from March 2nd to 7th with the aim of improving the dried fruit industry. The visit was financed by the International Trade Center and the World Bank. (National River Commission)
Agricultural sector is boosting foreign trade. In January of 2025, food and beverage exports grew 42.5% in value and 9.4% in volume year-on-year, reaching US$ 1.14 billion and 503 thousand tonnes. There was a 107.7% increase in exports of unroasted coffee, and a 15% increase in exports of cut flowers and foliage, with the USA as main market. (National Administrative Department of Statistics)
Coffee production increased 42% in February, to 1.36 million 60 kg bags, compared to the same month of 2024. The result was boosted by good weather conditions. (National Federation of Coffee Growers)
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on March 4th there is no justification for the US President, Donald Trump, to implement 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico. She added the Mexican government will respond with tariff and non-tariff measures. “No one wins with this decision”, Sheinbaum said. “It is in no way our purpose to initiate an economic or trade confrontation”. (Government of Mexico)
According to Hugo Pastore, director of the Chamber of Exporters and Traders of Cereals and Oilseeds, Paraguay’s corn exports should not be affected by the higher Brazil’s production. “Brazil has specific tax regulations for each State and Paraguay has certain markets in which it is very competitive”, Pastore said. (Capeco)
According to Edgar Mayeregger, risk management director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Paraguay is going through the end of La Niña and the agriculture is expected to face a period of “neutrality” during April and May. “This helps a lot in the sowing of seasonal crops and in the harvesting of corn for extensive crops”, said Mayeregger. (MAG)
Agrobanco plans to grant more than US$ 245 million in loans in 2025, benefiting 61,000 small farmers across the country. In January, more than US$ 27 million was disbursed to more than 9,000 farmers, 55% from its own resources and 45% from the Agroperú Fund. The bank has also provided access to credit for more than 2,500 farmers who have entered the formal financial system, with total financing of more than US$ 6.3 million. (Agrobanco)
Pineapple exports reached 1,528 tonnes in January, generating US$ 3.6 million, marking the best start to the year in history, with an increase of 372% in volume and 135% in value compared to the previous year. (Fresh Fruit)
Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries has postponed vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease, which was scheduled for March 15th, 2025, to April 1st, due to delays in importing the vaccines. (MGAP)
Country’s meat market saw an increase in the price of fattened steers, with businesses reaching up to US$ 4.40 per kg, the highest value since May 2023. (Blasina and Associates)
READ MORE: