Market research

Castor seeds market in MERCOSUR

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"MERCOSUR" region includes following countries:

Brazil

Argentina

Uruguay

Paraguay

Earlier Report Observations

The castor seeds market in MERCOSUR expanded sharply from 2018 to 2023, with market volume more than doubling from 21 219 t to 46 673 t. Production followed a similar trajectory, rising from 21 224 t to 47 064 t over the same period. The most pronounced increase occurred between 2018 and 2019, when market size jumped by 58%.

This sustained growth was underpinned by supportive public policies, notably the Petrobras Biodiesel Program (PBio) in Brazil, which stimulated castor bean cultivation through guaranteed purchase contracts, technical assistance, and the distribution of high-yield seeds. By providing income security to farmers, the program encouraged planting expansion in traditional growing areas. Concurrently, rising demand for castor oil from the cosmetics, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries, driven by increasing consumer preference for natural and ecological products, further supported market expansion.

By 2024, the market faced headwinds from climatic factors, pests, and diseases, which constrained production growth. However, technological advances in seed treatment and oil extraction, along with persistent demand for organic and non-GMO products, continued to provide support. Exchange rate volatility in MERCOSUR countries, such as the depreciation of the Argentine peso, also influenced import costs for seed stock, affecting local market dynamics.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in MERCOSUR
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in MERCOSUR in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Brazil in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Brazil in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Brazil by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production castor seeds in MERCOSUR

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of castor seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of castor seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

MERCOSUR's castor seeds production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 41 800 tons of castor seeds, marking a 25.1% increase compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production surged by 104.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 26.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in MERCOSUR in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.6%	57.4%	25.1%	26.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports castor seeds from MERCOSUR

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2020, while the highest occurred in 2019, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 2.4 times. In 2020, MERCOSUR's cross-border shipments of castor seeds totaled 163 tons, representing a 57.9% decrease from 2019. The maximum volume was 388 tons in 2019, and the largest increase of 114.8% was also recorded that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from MERCOSUR in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(24.8%)	114.8%	(57.9%)	(12.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from MERCOSUR in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Following a two-year rise, MERCOSUR's castor seeds exports declined. In 2020, exports amounted to 449 thousand US dollars, which is 52.3% lower than in 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 37.8%, translating to an annualized decrease of 14.7%. The peak value was 941 thousand US dollars in 2019, and the largest increase of 15.1% was observed in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from MERCOSUR in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.1%	13.1%	(52.3%)	(14.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from MERCOSUR in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports castor seeds to MERCOSUR

Imports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over the period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, MERCOSUR imported 166 tons of castor seeds, down by 62.3% from the previous year. The maximum volume was 440 tons in 2019, and the largest increase of 150.9% was also recorded that year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to MERCOSUR in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(58.9%)	150.9%	(62.3%)	(27.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to MERCOSUR in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, MERCOSUR's cross-border shipments of castor seeds stood at 456 thousand US dollars, a decrease of 57.8% compared to the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports dropped by 64.3%, with an average annual decline of 29.1%. The largest increase of 33.7% was recorded in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to MERCOSUR in value, 2017-2020, K $ US