Brazil’s agribusiness sector broke records in 2025, with agricultural goods now accounting for nearly half (48.5%) of all Brazilian exports, as the Latin American country strengthens trade relationships with key partners — including China — for growth in 2026, according to a release from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Brazil exported $169.2 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2025, increasing 3% from the previous year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported. Also, Brazil increased the volume of products exported by 3.6%, offsetting a 0.6% decrease in average prices.
Brazil’s thriving agriculture sector was boosted by strong soybean production, generating $43.5 billion in foreign exchange revenue, shipping a record 108.2 million tons of the crop in 2025, the government reported. Additionally, Brazilian beef had a record year, with revenues of $17.9 billion in 2025, increasing dollars by 39.9% and volumes by 20.4%, as the commodity expanded into 11 new markets.
Brazilian soybeans benefit from U.S., China tensions
In 2025, soybeans became a geopolitical flashpoint, as China pushed back on soybean imports from the U.S. in favour of Brazilian crops amid the Trump administration’s trade negotiations and tariff threats. As Brazil pulls away with soybean production, 84% of U.S. growers are either concerned or very concerned about competition with their Brazilian counterparts, according to a report from Purdue University and the CME Group.
The U.S. government also threatened Brazil with tariffs over what the Trump administration felt was unfair treatment of Brazil’s former President, Jair Bolsonaro, who was arrested and charged for trying to overturn election results.
China was the number one destination for Brazilian agricultural goods, accounting for $55.3 billion in exports and 32.7% of total exports, growing 11% over 2024 numbers, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
In May 2025, Brazil signed a deal allowing duck and turkey meat, chicken offal, corn ethanol byproducts, and peanut meal imports into China, according to a government press release.
Brazil’s trade policy pays dividends
While China is a key strategic partner to Brazil, the Latin American country has been quickly expanding other export markets, adding 525 agricultural markets since 2023, the government reported. Behind China, Brazil exported $25.2 billion to the EU, increasing 8.6% from 2024.
A bloc of Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is on the verge of signing a major trade deal with the EU, called the EU-Mercosur deal. 25 years in the making, the deal will create a free trade zone of 700 million people and reduce trade barriers and tariffs between the two parties.
Additionally, Brazil expanded its exports to Latin American countries. Brazilian exports to Argentina totaled $ 573.79 million, and Mexico received $217 million worth of agricultural goods from Brazil, increasing by 29% and 2% year-over-year, respectively.
Elsewhere, Brazil increased its exports to Pakistan ($895.6 million), the Philippines ($332.6 million), Bangladesh ($256.75 million), and the UK ($231.5 million) by 122%, 9.18%, 4.64%, and 3%, respectively.
