In the first semester of 2015, the Survey of Stocks reveals a reduction in the number of active establishments, which were 7,927 in the second semester of 2014, and became 7,858 in the first semester of 2015, a drop of 0.9%. The Southeast Region accounted for the greatest reduction in the number of active establishments (3.5%), followed by the Northeast (3.3%). The greatest increase occurred in the Central-West Region (3.4%).

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With capacity of 70.1 million metric tons, silos prevail in warehouse network

Despite the slight drop in the number of establishments (-0.9%), the total storage capacity available in Brazil, registered in the first semester of 2015, by the Survey of Stocks in active establishments, was of 160.8 million metric tons, 1.0% higher than that of the previous semester. In terms of storage capacity, silos prevailed in the country, having reached 70.1 million metric tons in the first semester this year, a growth of 6.3%. Silos were followed by automated and bulk warehouses, which hit 59.7 million metric tons of storage capacity, up 2.8%. Conventional, structural and inflatable warehouses added up to 31.0 million metric tonnes, which represented a drop of 12.1% in relation to the second semester of 2014.

Soybeans' stock up 30.7% whereas coffee's down 21.0% over 06/30/2014

As to the stocks of agricultural products in warehouse facilities on 06/30/2015, soybeans (in grain) stands out with the biggest volume in storage (27.0 million metric tons), which is due principally to the great harvest obtained in 2015, reaching 96.9 million metric tons - a growth of 12.2% over the prior harvest. Besides, as it is an internationally priced product, with the dollar appreciation in the first semester of the year, the product might have been stored waiting for better prices. These factors provoked an increment of 30.7% in the stored volume in comparison with 06/30/2014.

Corn (in grain) registered an increase of 6.6% in the stored volume, reaching 11.0 million metric tons. Corn - 1st crop presented a decline of 4.6%, since producers chose soybeans as the 1st crop culture, but corn-2^nd-crop production registered a rise of 15.0%. With the good crops in the latest years, there was increase in the exports and also in the stocks, possibly waiting for a better opportunity to sell the product.

In the case of paddy rice, the change was 4.2%, resulting in a stock of 5.0 million metric tons. Production remained virtually stable in 2014.

The volume in stocks was of 2.5 million metric tons, a reduction of 16.8%, which can be attributable to the production decline in Rio Grande do Sul, where the culture was highly affected during its cycle due to excessive rainfall, resulting in losses of 50% in the production.

Total coffee beans had another reduction in its stock: 21.0%. The culture was affected by dry and hot weather, which stoke principally the producing regions. As a result of these factors, the total national production shrank 6.4% in 2015. With a decrease in the production, part of the stocks was used to supply the market.