Paraguayan rice exports closed the first semester with $84 million less

Paraguay's rice exports experienced a significant downturn in the first half of 2026, with earnings falling by $84 million compared to the previous year. The Paraguayan Chamber of Rice Industrialists (Caparroz) reported that the sector generated $137 million in export revenue between January and June 2026, a stark contrast to the $221.8 million recorded in the same period of 2025. This represents a 38% year-on-year decrease.

The decline in revenue is mirrored by a reduction in export volume. Shipments, measured in "base cáscara" (which includes all rice presentations), fell by approximately 14%. Paraguay exported 659,992 tons in the first six months of 2026, down from 768,647 tons in the first half of 2025. Polished rice remained the largest earner, bringing in $72 million, followed by integral rice ($49 million), broken rice ($8 million), and paddy rice ($6 million).

Brazil continues to be the dominant market for Paraguayan rice, absorbing 83.38% of all exports. Between January and June 2026, Brazil received 559,306 tons. Chile followed as the second-largest destination, importing 51,795 tons during the same period. However, prices for some products destined for the Brazilian market have also seen a decrease. For instance, the average price for polished rice in June 2026 was $364 per ton, down from $391 in June 2025. Integral rice prices dropped from $309 to $261 per ton, and broken rice fell from $210 to $175 per ton.

Despite the overall decline, Caparroz notes that prices for polished and broken rice have shown signs of recovery in 2026 after a downward trend in the latter half of last year. Nevertheless, producers are facing pressure on their profitability, and the sector is closely examining strategic decisions for the upcoming harvest season.