Brazil's Soy Exports will Hit Record High for January, Grain Exporting Group Says

The grains exporting group Anec predicted on Tuesday that Brazilian soybean exports would reach nearly four million tonnes in January, a new record.

Anec reported that traders in Brazil will export an estimated 3,73 million tons of oilseeds this month. This is about 1.3 millions tons more than was estimated last week. Farmers have only just started harvesting the 2026 crop.

The company cited revised shipping schedules as the reason for its decision to increase the projections for January. It added that adjustments in ship 'line-up data are normal during any given month. The majority of Brazil's soybeans are shipped to China. However, this year the U.S. will be a major competitor in the market.

Sergio Mendes, the Anec?chief, said in an interview?last Week that rains had?hampered Brazilian soybean shipments in December. He said that a part of the shipment scheduled for last month would leave local ports in early January. Brazil, which is the largest producer and exporter of soy in the world, shipped 2,85 million tons (the highest monthly volume ever) of?soybeans to the United States during January 2024. Brazil's soy exports totaled 1,07 million tons in the month of January 2025.

Last November, Abiove, a lobby for oilseed crushers, estimated that Brazil would finish last year with nearly seven million tons in 'carryover stocks of soy,' part of which might be exported before the new crops are ready. As of last Thursday, Brazilian farmers had harvested just 0.6% of the soybean crop for 2025/26. Anec has also increased Brazil's forecasted corn exports for January from 2.85 million to 3,27 million tons. (Reporting and editing by Ana Mano)

(source: Reuters)