Brazilian Wheat Imports Could Reach Record 9 Million Tonnes This Season – Datamar News | 22/10/26

Brazilian wheat imports could reach a record 9 million tonnes during the 2026/27 crop season, according to projections by the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association (Abitrigo), due to a sharp decline in domestic production caused primarily by adverse weather conditions in the country's main wheat-producing states in the south. These factors have affected both crop yields and grain quality, potentially leading Brazil to record its highest wheat import volume in 30 years. During Abitrigo's congress in Rio de Janeiro, its executive president, Rubens Barbosa, warned that volatility in production costs and fluctuations in international prices had also influenced planting decisions, reducing the cultivated area below the country's agricultural potential. He also noted that lower domestic supply and rising wheat costs could lead to higher prices for flour and wheat-based products, including bread and pasta. Meanwhile, Daniel Kümmel, chairman of Abitrigo's deliberative council, emphasized that the main challenge will be the logistical and financial capacity to handle an unprecedented volume of imports. Although Brazil has imported wheat for decades, operating at this scale will require efficient coordination across ports, storage facilities, working capital and foreign exchange availability to ensure supplies for the milling industry. Therefore, the decline in domestic production would not only increase Brazil's dependence on imported wheat but also put the sector's logistics infrastructure and operational capacity to the test. Link to Article