Brazil's carioca bean harvest pushes prices down as first-half exports hit record
The advance of Brazil's irrigated bean harvest is expanding carioca supply and pressuring prices lower, according to Cepea. Meanwhile, Secex data show bean exports reached a record 149,270 tonnes in the first half of 2026, the highest in a series that began in 1997.
Irrigated harvest expands carioca supply
The gradual advance of Brazil's irrigated bean harvest is bringing more higher-quality carioca beans to market, easing domestic supply and pushing prices lower, according to the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea). The assessment was reported by Globo Rural and VG Notícias, which cited the same Cepea reading of the market.
Cepea researchers said that with new volumes expected to arrive over the coming weeks, buyers have intensified their pressure for price reductions on carioca beans. The prospect of a larger, better-quality crop has shifted negotiating power toward purchasers and improved the overall supply situation across the Brazilian market.
Black beans move in the opposite direction
The black bean segment is following the opposite path. Prices there remain supported by the close of the harvest in the main producing state and by the firm stance of sellers, who are holding their quotes. Domestic availability is also being complemented by lots imported from Argentina, an established supplier of black beans to the Brazilian market.
The split between the two bean types underscores how harvest timing shapes near-term price direction: fresh carioca volumes are weighing on values, while the tail end of the black bean harvest keeps that segment tight.
Exports at a record pace
In the external market, Brazilian bean shipments are running at a record rate. Data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) show that exports totaled 149,270 tonnes in the first half of 2026, the largest volume in the historical series that began in 1997.
June alone accounted for 33,300 tonnes, a new record for the month. Imports also increased, reaching 7,680 tonnes — the highest June figure since 2021, indicating that Brazil continues to source complementary volumes from abroad even as outbound trade expands.
The combination of an ample carioca harvest and record exports points to a well-supplied domestic market alongside strong foreign demand. For importers, softer carioca prices and rising Brazilian availability improve buying conditions; for exporters, the record first-half tally confirms Brazil's growing footprint in the global bean trade.
Separately, Cepea data cited in the same coverage showed soybeans trading above R$ 140 per bag, the highest level since January, a reminder of the firmer tone across parts of Brazil's grain and pulse complex.
