Agribusiness leads bankruptcy filings in Brazil in 2025

Agribusiness leads the requests for judicial reorganization in Brazil in 2025, according to an indicator relaunched today (April 7) by Serasa Experian. The sector accounts for 30,1% of CNPJs (Brazilian company tax IDs) undergoing restructuring, totaling 743 companies, the largest share among all segments of the economy.

In total, 977 bankruptcy filings were registered in the country, the highest volume since 2016. Agriculture is technically tied with the service sector, which accounts for 30% of the requests, followed by commerce (21,7%) and industry (18,2%).

The increase in agricultural participation is recent and consistent. Compared to 2024, there was a growth of 3,8 percentage points. From a broader perspective, the leap is even more significant: the sector went from just 1,3% of cases in 2012 to the current 30,1%, reflecting a greater presence in financial reorganization processes.

According to Camila Abdelmalack, chief economist at Serasa Experian, the performance is associated with the specific characteristics of agricultural activity. Factors such as climate risks, including droughts and excessive rainfall, as well as pests and diseases, directly impact productivity. Added to this is the volatility of commodity prices and the high cost of dollar-denominated inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides.

According to the analysis, the longer financial cycle, marked by the dynamics between harvest and off-season, also increases exposure to fluctuations in revenue and cash flow. In adverse scenarios, this set of factors puts pressure on margins and payment capacity throughout the entire production chain, increasing the need for debt renegotiation.

Meanwhile, bankruptcy filings continue to decline. In 2025, 698 cases were registered, a 19% decrease compared to the previous year. Despite this, agriculture maintains a residual share in this indicator, which reinforces the use of judicial reorganization as the main instrument for financial restructuring and preservation of operations in the sector.