Brazilian onion exports in August totaled nearly 4,000 tons, according to Comex Stat. This volume was 70% higher than in July but 72% below the 14,000 tons shipped in August 2024. The main destinations were Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, with exports mainly from Goiás, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo.
The decline is linked to reduced demand from Argentina, while shipments to Paraguay remained at typical levels. In 2024, especially during the first half of the year, Brazil imported large volumes of Argentine onions. Between January and June of that year, imports reached nearly 250,000 tons, with Argentina accounting for more than 72% of the total. Supply shortages and high domestic prices drove those purchases.
In the second half of 2024, however, higher productivity in Brazilian producing regions and lower prices shifted trade flows. Argentine buyers increased imports of Brazilian onions, prompting Argentine growers to expand planted areas for 2025. This strategy did not materialize as expected, as Brazil again harvested substantial volumes, sharply reducing demand for imports.
As a result, Argentina's purchases from Brazil fell from more than 11,000 tons in August 2024 to about 430,000 kilograms in August 2025, a 96% drop. Exports to Paraguay continued at regular levels, providing some relief to Brazil's oversupply, but volumes remain insufficient to resolve the domestic surplus.
Source: Datamar News