Barley market in Brazil

Earlier Report Observations

Brazil's barley market volume grew from 899 thousand tons in 2018 to a peak of 1.18 million tons in 2022. This expansion was primarily driven by increased planted area and favorable climate conditions encouraging production, alongside sustained demand from the domestic beer industry which fostered local cultivation to reduce reliance on expensive international barley. The adoption of genetic improvements and modern agricultural technologies further boosted yields, leading to a record national production in 2022.

Despite a market contraction to 992 thousand tons in 2023, the sector saw significant structural investments. The construction of new malting plants, including a major facility in Paraná with a capacity of 240 thousand tons of malt annually, aimed to stimulate local production and cater to large breweries like Heineken and Ambev. The growing number of craft breweries continued to underpin demand, supporting a gradual shift toward national malt, especially for the premium beer segment, even as climate variability remained a key challenge for grain quality.

Brazil's dependence on barley imports persisted throughout the period, with volumes reaching a record high by 2024 due to robust demand from the beer industry. While domestic production increased in certain years, it still covered only about one-third of the national malt requirement, indicating ongoing opportunities for local supply growth driven by the professionalization of farming practices and targeted investments in the malting infrastructure.

Production barley in Brazil

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Top producers of barley, 2018-2021

World map of production of barley, 2018-2021

Brazil produced 452.8 thousand tons of barley in 2021, marking a 17.0% increase from 2020. Over the period from 2018 to 2021, production grew by 37.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2020, at 4.6%, while the most significant increase was in 2019, at 22.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Brazil in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Exports barley from Brazil

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports varied significantly, with a 1 253-fold difference between the low in 2018 and the high in 2020. In 2021, Brazil's barley exports totaled 0.0 thousand tons, representing a sharp decline of 96.4% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2020 at 0.0 thousand tons, and the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 3 856.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, the geographical distribution of barley exports in kind showed a strong reliance on Paraguay, which accounted for 92.5% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 33-fold difference between these extremes. In 2021, barley exports from Brazil amounted to 0.0 million US dollars, down by 66.7% from 2020. The maximum value was recorded in 2020 at 0.0 million US dollars, and the largest increase was in 2019, at 2 817.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, the structure of barley exports in value terms was led by Paraguay (30.1% of exports), Liberia (24.0%), and the Marshall Islands (15.5%). Together, these three countries represented 69.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2021

Imports barley to Brazil

Imports in kind, K t

Foreign barley supplies to Brazil declined for the second consecutive year. In 2021, import volume was recorded at 485.2 thousand tons, reflecting a 26.5% decrease compared to 2020. From 2018 to 2021, imports fell by 14.6%, equating to an annualized decline of 5.1%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 671.3 thousand tons, and the largest increase also occurred in 2019, at 18.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Over the period from 2018 to 2021, Argentina dominated barley imports in kind to Brazil, with a share of 90.4% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

Brazil's barley imports declined for the second year in a row. In 2021, import volume amounted to 156.6 million US dollars, reflecting a 13.2% decrease from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 3.2%, with an annualized growth rate of 1.0%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 204.7 million US dollars, and the largest increase was in 2019, at 34.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Argentina was the key supplier of barley to Brazil in value terms, accounting for 88.9% of total imports. The remaining share was distributed among a diverse group of other countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2021