Brazil sorghum output surges as China exports and ethanol demand grow
In Brazil, Datamar News reported that sorghum is moving beyond its traditionally smaller role in Brazilian agriculture as rising production, access to the Chinese market, growing use in ethanol production and greater tolerance to water stress create new opportunities for the crop.
Brazil produced around 6 million metric tons of sorghum last year and is expected to reach about 7.5 million tons this year, according to Daniel Rosa, a director at the Brazilian Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers, known as Abramilho.
Goiás leads production with approximately 2 million tons, followed by Minas Gerais with around 1.4 million tons, according to Abramilho data.
Brazil exported around 180,000 metric tons in 2024, a record at the time, with South Africa among the main destinations.
Access to China could now take Brazilian sorghum exports to a different level.
Abramilho took part last year in a mission involving Chinese technical officials who visited farms and processing facilities in Minas Gerais and Goiás. The protocol to open the Chinese market subsequently moved forward.
“China is the world’s largest sorghum importer. They produce it domestically, but they still depend on international sorghum,” Rosa said.
Brazilian exports had already exceeded 250,000 tons this year through the previous month, surpassing the total shipped in 2024, according to the report.
Expectations for September are considerably higher. Rosa cited projections from Brazil’s grain exporters association Anec indicating shipments could reach 1 million tons during the month, the report added.
Category: Food & Agriculture
