Brazilian sorghum exports are on track to reach a record this year, with shipments projected at 1.8 million metric tons in September and October alone, according to data compiled by agricultural consultancy AgRural.
The forecast marks a sharp acceleration from August, when exports hit a monthly record of 196,000 metric tons, a fraction of the volumes expected over the following two months.
The surge reflects a combination of expanding Brazilian supplies and growing Chinese appetite for the grain, as Beijing seeks alternatives to corn imports amid trade tensions with the United States.
On the supply side, Brazilian sorghum production has increased, driven partly by rising demand from ethanol producers and partly by weather-related planting decisions.
During the previous crop season, some farmers who missed the optimal window for planting safrinha corn — the second crop planted on the same land after the soybean harvest — switched to sorghum instead.
On the demand side, China has emerged as the main driver of Brazil’s export boom.
Chinese buyers have been purchasing sorghum to avoid or limit corn imports, a strategy aimed at preventing a sharper rise in corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade. The broader objective is to keep domestic corn prices attractive enough to discourage farmers from cutting planted acreage.
“China has done this extensively in the United States. But because of the trade war, Chinese buyers are now sourcing sorghum from Brazil,” Siqueira told The AgriBiz.
From January through August, Brazil exported 232,000 metric tons of sorghum, with China accounting for 196,000 metric tons of the total. Morocco was the second-largest destination, purchasing 35,000 metric tons.
This story was translated from the original Portuguese with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by The AgriBiz editorial staff.
