In February, the output of cereals, legumes and oilseeds estimated for 2021 hit another record and should add up to 263.1 million tonnes , 3.5% above (9.0 million tonnes) that obtained in 2020 (254.1 million tonnes) and 0.3% (908.4 thousand tonnes) above the previous information (262.2 million tonnes). The Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production - LSPA pointed out that the area to be harvested should be 67.0 million hectares, being 2.3% (1.5 million hectares) larger than the harvested area in 2020 and 0.2% (156.5 thousand hectares) larger than that forecast in the previous month.

Rice, corn and soybeans are the three main products in this group, and, together, represented 93.1% of the output estimate and accounted for 87.7% of the area to be harvested. In relation to 2020, the area for corn increased 3.4% (3.3% in the first crop and 3.4% in the second crop), the area for soybeans, 3.1% and the area for rice, 0.2%. On the other hand, the area for upland cotton declined 11.3%.

Records are expected in the output of soybeans, adding up to 130.4 million tonnes, a rise of 7.3% over 2020, and in the output of corn (decline of 2.9% in the first crop and rise of 1.4% in the second one), adding up to 103.5 million tonnes, a rise of 0.3% over 2020. The estimates for the output of upland cotton (-16.5%), adding up to 5.9 million tonnes, and of paddy rice (-0.7%), adding up to 11.0 million tonnes, declined.

The February estimate for the national harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds of 2021 reached 263.1 million tonnes and a harvested area of 67.0 million hectares. The area to be harvested grew 2.3% (1.5 million hectares) over 2020. It rose 156.5 thousand hectares (0.2%) against the estimate in the previous month.

The South (14.1%) and Northeast (0.9%) regions increased their estimates, as the former should produce 83.4 million tonnes (31.7% of the total) and the latter, 22.8 million tonnes (8.7% of the total). The estimates for the Central-West (-0.9%), with 120.6 million tonnes (45.8% of the total), Southeast (-0.6%), with 25.6 million tonnes (9.7% of the total) and North (-2.2%), with 10.7 million tonnes (4.1% of the total) dropped.

Among the Federation Units, Mato Grosso led with a share of 27.2%, followed by Paraná (15.8%), Rio Grande do Sul (13.4%), Goiás (9.8%), Mato Grosso do Sul (8.5%) and Minas Gerais (6.0%), which, together, represented 80.7% of the national total. Compared with the previous month, the positive changes in the production estimates took place in Paraná (703.7 thousand tonnes), Sergipe (230.7 thousand tonnes), Goiás (161.0 thousand tonnes), Minas Gerais (2.5 thousand tonnes) and Espírito Santo (1.4 thousand tonnes). 
On the other hand, the negative changes took place in Bahia (-108.0 thousand tonnes), Rio Grande do Sul 
(-67.5 thousand tonnes), Amapá (-13.0 thousand tonnes) and Ceará (-2.4 thousand tonnes).

Highlights in February 2021 estimate in relation to January

The following positive changes in the production estimate in February over January stood out: wheat (16.8% or 965.8 thousand tonnes), coffea canephora (12.1% or 98.1 thousand tonnes), barley (9.0% or 32.9 thousand tonnes, oat (2.2% or 21.3 thousand tonnes), coffea arabica (1.6% or 30.6 thousand tonnes), corn - 2nd crop (0.3% or 262.8 thousand tonnes) and soybeans (0.1% or 117.2 thousand tonnes).

On the other hand, declines were expected in the output of rice (-0.1% or 8.8 thousand tonnes), beans - 3rd crop (-0.1% or 810 tonnes), beans - 2nd crop (-0.7% or 8.6 thousand tonnes), tomatoes (-1.2% or 46.0 thousand tonnes), corn - 1st crop (-1.7% or 441.3 thousand tonnes) and beans - 1st crop (-3.6% or 46.8 thousand tonnes).

PADDY RICE - The production estimate was of 11.0 million tonnes, corresponding to a reduction of 0.1% over the previous month and of 0.7% in relation to 2020. Nevertheless, the production should be sufficient to feed the Brazilian domestic market.

Accounting for nearly 70.0% of the national output, Rio Grande do Sul should produce 7.6 million tonnes, a drop of 2.1% over 2020 and of 2.7% in relation to the productivity (7,958 kg/ha). The production in Santa Catarina, of 1.2 million tonnes, should decline 4.1% over 2020.

COFFEE (in grain) - Considering the two species (arabica and canephora), the estimate of the Brazilian output of coffee for 2021 was of 2.9 million tonnes, a growth of 4.8% over the previous month and a decline of 23.9% over the previous year, with the average yield (1,580 kg/ha) increasing 4.7% over the previous month and declining 19.7% in the annual comparison. The planted area declined 4.9% and the area to be harvested, 5.2%.

For coffea arabica, the production was estimated at 1.9 million tonnes or 32.2 million 60-kg sacks, a growth of 1.6% over the previous month and a drop of 32.5% over the previous year. In 2020, the Brazilian harvest of coffea arabica was of biennial positive bearings, being a record production in the IBGE´s time series. In 2021, the harvest of coffea arabica will be of biennial negative bearings, which should result in a significant retraction in the output. Minas Gerais is the biggest producer of coffea arabica and should account, in 2021, for 67.9% of the Brazilian output, with 1.3 million tonnes, 35.9% less than in the previous year.

Concerning coffea canephora, more known as conillon, the production estimate was of 905.3 thousand tonnes or 15.1 million 60-kg sacks, a growth of 12.1% over the previous month and an increase of 4.6% over 2020, with an average yield 4.0% higher (2,296 kg/ha). In Espírito Santo, the biggest Brazilian producer (67.9% of the total production), the estimate was of 614.4 thousand tonnes, a growth of 18.0% over the previous month and of 9.3% against 2020.

WINTER CEREALS (in grain) - The main winter cereals produced in Brazil are wheat, white oat and barley. The production estimate of wheat was of 6.7 million tonnes, a growth of 8.2% over the previous year, with the average yield increasing 9.0%.

In 2021, the South Region should account for 87.9% of the national wheat production. In Paraná, the biggest producer (46.4% of the national total), the output was estimated at 3.1 million tonnes. Rio Grande do Sul, the second biggest producer with a share of 39.1% of the national total, should produce 2.6 million tonnes, 25.0% more than in 2020. 

The production estimate of oatwas of 997.5 thousand tonnes, a growth of 7.8% in relation to the previous year. Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, the biggest Brazilian producers of this cereal, should have harvests of 740.5 and 189.2 thousand tonnes, respectively.

Concerning barley, the estimated production was of 397.2 thousand tonnes, a growth of 4.8% in relation to the previous year. The biggest producers of this cereal were Paraná, with 272.0 thousand tonnes, and Rio Grande do Sul, with 111.1 thousand tonnes.

BEAN (seed) - The second estimate for the production of beans for 2021 was of 3.0 million tonnes, a decline of 1.9% in relation to that in January. The area to be harvested increased 0.2% and the average yield decreased 2.0% in the same comparison. Concerning the annual change, the estimate for the area to be harvested (0.7%), production (2.2%) and average yield (1.4%) increased. Considering the three harvests, the states with the largest share in the production estimate of beans were: Paraná (24.3%), Minas Gerais (18.8%) and Goiás (10.9%).

The first crop of beans, which accounted for 42.1% of the total output, was estimated at 1.2 million tonnes, a decline of 3.6% over the January estimate, which represented less 46.8 thousand tonnes. Bahia, with a reduction of 15.4%, and Paraná, with a reduction of 10.3%, were the negative highlights in terms of production estimates. In relation to 2020, the estimated production reduced by 5.1% and the average yield, by 5.9%.

The second crop of beans, which represented 39.1% of the total, was estimated at 1.2 million tonnes, a drop of 0.7% against the January estimate. Rio Grande do Sul, with an increase of 1.7% in the estimated production, and Sergipe, with an increase of 16.5%, were the positive highlights. In contrast, Paraná (-1.7%) and Goiás (4.0%) retracted.

For the third crop of beans, the production estimate was of 553.7 thousand tonnes, a reduction of 0.1% over the January´s estimate. The estimate of the area to be harvested retreated 0.2%. Paraná (-26.7%) was the Federation Unit responsible for this decrease. The output estimate declined 3.0% in relation to the previous year.

CORN (in grain) - With a harvested area of 18.9 million hectares and an average yield of 5,483 kg/ha, in relation to the latest monthly information, the production estimate declined 0.2%, adding up to 103.5 million tonnes. The output should be 0.3% bigger than last year, the area to be harvested should increase 3.4% and the average yield should decrease 3.0%. In spite of the decline in relation to the previous month, the Brazilian output of corn in 2021 remained a record in the IBGE´s time series.

The first crop of corn should account for 24.9% of the Brazilian production and it was estimated at 25.8 million tonnes, a decline of 1.7% over the previous month, due to the drop in the productivity of the crops (-2.0%). The biggest negative changes of output were reported in Bahia (-5.7%), Paraná (-5.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-3.3%). This output was 2.9% smaller in relation to 2020.

For the second crop, which should represent 75.1% of the national production, the output estimate was at 77.7 million tonnes, a growth of 0.3% over the previous month and of 1.4% against 2020. However, the average yield should decline 2.0%, due to the smaller "planting window" for this crop, since the current agricultural year delayed and the harvest of soybeans should be later. The biggest producers of corn - 2nd crop in 2021 should be Mato Grosso (33.5 million tonnes and a share of 43.1% of the national total) and Paraná (13.6 million tonnes and a share of 17.4% of the national total).

SOYBEANS (in grain) - The estimated production of soybeans was of 130.4 million tonnes, a rise of 0.1% over the previous month, the equivalent to 117.2 thousand tonnes. This production estimate for the 2021 harvest was a new record in the IBGE´s time series. The planted area, of 38.2 million hectares, was 0.1% larger in the monthly comparison.

February showed small positive adjustments in the estimates for Goiás (0.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (0.5%). On the other hand, Paraná (-0.3%) and Amapá (-23.8%)reduced their output.

The estimated output was 7.3% bigger in relation to the previous year, the equivalent to 8.9 million tonnes. The growing production in Rio Grande do Sul (72.8%), Mato Grosso do Sul (5.2%), Minas Gerais (8.6%), Bahia (6.3%), Piauí (15.6%), Santa Catarina (5.5%), Maranhão (2.9%) and Pará (2.9%) stood out.

TOMATOES - The Brazilian production of tomatoes in February was estimated at 4.0 million tonnes, a decline of 1.2% over the previous month. The biggest negative changes in the production estimates over January were in Espírito Santo (-12.8%) and Goiás (-2.1%). In relation to 2020, the production estimate remained virtually unchanged.

Goiás was the biggest Brazilian producer of tomatoes, with 28.6% of the national total, followed by São Paulo, with 25.9%, Minas Gerais, with 13.2%, Bahia, with 5.6%, Paraná, with 5.4%, and Rio de Janeiro, with 3.8%.