Sunflower Production in Argentina Could Reach 9.5 Million Tonnes
Argentina’s economy shrank 2.1% in February when compared to the previous year, marking its worst result since 2024 and signaling continued weakness at the start of 2026. The downturn was driven mainly by lower consumption and by industrial contraction, amid high inflation, income losses and the short-term effects of aggressive fiscal adjustment. (Indec)
Sunflower production chain is going through a strong expansion phase, with higher processing and greater export revenue. According to the Argentine Sunflower Association, oil production was the highest since the 2000s and, if external demand remains firm, the country could reach 9.5 million tonnes in the coming years, although infrastructure, logistics and tax burdens are still limiting growth. (Asagir)
Santa Fe province has implemented emergency measures to reduce the impact of flooding on livestock farming, including a 30-day extension of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign and more flexible cattle movement rules in affected areas. The government also opened a registry to identify available fields for evacuated herds and private feed supplies, amid logistical disruptions caused by flooding in the central and northern parts of the province. (Government of Santa Fe)
The next rice season in the State of Rio Grande do Sul is taking shape under uncertainty, with farmers facing restricted credit, high interest rates, elevated costs and an unfavorable exchange rate, according to the Federation of Rice Farmers Associations of Rio Grande do Sul. The entity said the planted area may remain stable or even decline, while the sector cautiously monitors prices, exports and the commercialization support announced by the Federal Government. (Federarroz)
Agribusiness accumulates more than US$ 19.70 billion in debt under out-of-court bankruptcy protection plans in 2026, according to the Brazilian Observatory of Out-of-Court Restructuring. Agribusiness recorded six cases this year and 36 since 2022, reflecting a need for faster, more flexible and less costly debt renegotiation mechanisms than court-mediated bankruptcy protection (similar to US’ Chapter 11th). (OBRE)
National Association of Cereal Exporters projected Brazil’s soybean exports at 16.4 million tonnes in April, which, if confirmed, would mark a monthly record, above the 15.8 million tonnes shipped in March. Although slightly lower than the previous week’s estimate, the figure confirms the strong pace of Brazil’s harvest exports, with an expected year-on-year increase of about 2.9 million tonnes. (ANEC)
Fruit exports rose 25% in value in the 1Q26, reaching US$ 351.1 million, with shipments totaling 330.6 million kg, up 13% in volume from a year earlier. Growth was driven mainly by mango, watermelon, melon and apples, while grapes had a decline. According to the Brazilian Association of Fruit and Derivative Producers and Exporters, the result reinforces the sector’s expanding presence in international markets. (Abrafrutas)
COFCO International will invest more than US$ 400 million to expand its unit in Rondonópolis, State of Mato Grosso, aiming to raise soybean crushing capacity from 4,500 to 10,000 tonnes per day by early 2028. If confirmed, the expansion will turn the facility into Brazil’s largest soybean crushing complex and strengthen China’s presence in the country’s meal, oil and biodiesel processing chain. (COFCO International)
Production costs for soybeans, corn and cotton in the State of Mato Grosso are rising for the 2026/27 season, driven mainly by higher diesel and fertilizer prices amid tensions in the Middle East. According to the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics, soybean production costs increased 6.98%, while corn increased 3.38% and cotton advanced 2.64%. (IMEA)
Wheat prices continue to increase in southern Brazil amid tight supply and the need to rebuild stocks ahead of the new crop. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, the estimated availability of 260 thousand tonnes is seen as insufficient to supply the market until October, which may require imports. (TF Agroeconômica)
Joint operation in the State of Rio Grande do Sul seized about 1.4 thousand tonnes of seeds found in irregular conditions, with an estimated value of US$ 1.23 million. The action took place from April 14th to 16th, with inspection to companies and farms involved in the production, trade and use of seeds, as well as winter forage famers. (MAPA)
China has imposed an immediate ban on chicken meat and other poultry imports from Chile after a recent bird flu outbreak in the country. The measure covers all Chilean-origin poultry and related products. Chinese customs said any illegal shipments found at the border will be destroyed. China had already suspended this trade in the past and only resumed purchases in late 2024; before that, the country was Chile’s third-largest poultry market. (Government of China)
The Colombian Agricultural Institute and the Colombian Seed and Biotechnology Association called for the use of authorized seeds in the 1H26 planting season for rice, corn, cotton and sorghum. According to the entities, using this material can raise yields per hectare by up to 40% compared to unauthorized seeds, while also strengthening food security, formalization in the countryside and the country’s phytosanitary protection. (Acosemillas)
White corn imports increased 411% between January of 2025 and January of 2026, rising from 6,008 tonnes to 30,701 tonnes, while yellow corn imports increased 20.4%. The rise in foreign purchases reflects more favorable international prices and a more stable exchange rate, but also highlights the loss of competitiveness in domestic production. (Fenalce)
Sugar exports to the USA decreased to US$ 386.3 million, well below the recent peak of US$ 700.7 million, while access quotas to the US market dropped from 800 thousand to 200 thousand tonnes. Mexico has renewed pressure on Washington to expand the permitted volumes, placing sugar among the sensitive issues in the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. (Government of Mexico)
The Paraguayan Chamber of Exporters and Traders of Cereals and Oilseeds suspended the 2026 Soybean Rally, scheduled for April 23rd and 24th to take place in the Chaco region, due to rainfall and persistent weather instability. According to the entity, the decision aims to avoid damage to internal farm roads as the region prepares to begin the soybean harvest. (Capeco)
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean highlighted Uruguay as a successful example of diversification and investment in agriculture in its new 2026 Economy and Development Report, “Roots of the Future”. According to the institution, the country stands out in forestry thanks to clear regulatory frameworks, administrative agility and incentive policies, while also showing strong potential in power generation, biofuels and green hydrogen. (CAF)
Government has placed irrigation at the center of agricultural policy, with an interministerial meeting led by President Yamandú Orsi to define pilot projects, expand investment and strengthen climate adaptation in agriculture. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the strategy seeks to treat irrigation as a structural tool to raise productivity, stabilize yields and reduce the impact of droughts on farming and on the broader economy. (Government of Uruguay)
Rafael Ferber, president of the Rural Association of Uruguay, said it is “a huge injustice” to claim agriculture operates against the environment and criticized what he described as restrictive environmentalist barriers affecting the sector. During a speech, Ferber argued that agricultural production should be strengthened through less bureaucracy and greater support for investment, while reiterating that the sector stands ready to help advance development policies. (ARU)
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