Browse Data and Analysis

Brazil’s economy was forecasted to suffer a sharp drop in 2020; however, the decline was far less than expected. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined 4.1 percent, reaching $1.4 trillion.

The Brazilian orange crop for Marketing Year (MY) 2021/22 is forecast at 405 million 40.8-kg boxes (MBx), equal to 16.52 million metric tons (MMT), an increase of 12 percent relative to the current season.

Post forecasts 2021/22 planted cotton area at 1.52 million hectares (ha), with production at 12.6 million bales (2.74 million metric tons – MMT), more than a 10 percent greater than the 2020/21 estimated production of 10.68 million bales (2.33 MMT).

Brazil is the second-largest producer of biotech crops in the world with 115 events approved. Post forecasts the total area planted to GE crops reached over 56 million hectares during the recently completed crop year of 2020/2021. Adoption rates for...

New Zealand is an important market in the Pacific for U.S. agricultural products. In 2020, despite logistical and other challenges as a result of COVID-19, New Zealand’s imports continued strong and included US$ 575 million of U.S. agricultural products.

There have been no recent significant official changes to the genetically engineered (GE) policies established by the New Zealand government.

The Agricultural Trade Office (ATO)/Sao Paulo estimate for the Brazilian coffee production for Marketing Year (MY) 2021/22 (July-June) remains unchanged at 56.3 million 60-kg bags, a significant decrease of 19 percent compared to last year’s record output of 69.9 million bags.

On November 5, Brazil announced a unilateral 10 percent reduction of import tariffs on 87 percent of all goods and services until December 31, 2022. Agricultural products are on the list of reductions, including ethanol – which was lowered by 10 percent from 20 percent to 18 percent.

The same problems that beset apple production in 2020/2021, especially harvest labor shortages, could persist into 2021/2022.

Post increased its forecast for soybean planted area to 40.5 million hectares for 2021/22, up from 39 million hectares in 2020/21.

Post estimates milk production in 2021 will decrease by 0.5 percent, to 24.85 million metric tons (MMT). In 2022, production is forecast to grow one percent, reaching 25.1 MMT.

Following an exceptional milk production year in 2021 (and especially the first half of the year), FAS/Wellington is forecasting milk production to fall slightly in 2022.