Brazil: End of harvest in Santa Catarina opens space for more imports

The 2024/25 harvest in Santa Catarina ended in May, allowing the entry of more foreign onions.

Despite the lower volume imported during this period of 2025 (after the record of 2024), the quantity of bulbs received in May was surprising. Between January and May, according to Comex Stat, onion imports totaled nearly 112,000 tons, 50.7% less than the same period of the previous year. However, in May alone, the volume was 60,000 tons, 104% more than in April. The main origins were Argentina (77%) and Chile (21%).

Imports, in general, helped meet domestic demand during this brief off-season. However, there are already concerns about the coming weeks, when activity in other Brazilian markets is expected to intensify.

This month, on the other hand, supply has been concentrated in the Cerrado, São Paulo, and the Northeast, due to increased production, which is expected to intensify in MG, GO, and SP.

Furthermore, there is still a high availability of Argentine onions, which should reinforce the fall in prices in Brazil.

Hortifrúti/Cepea employees report that the quality of foreign onions is beginning to decline, but there is still room to export a large volume, which could further complicate the Brazilian market.