Brazilian peanut exports to grow 26% in 2025

Brazilian peanut exports reached a historic high in 2025, after a period of sharp decline. From January to August of this year alone, according to a survey conducted by the Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA-Apta) of the São Paulo State Department of Agriculture and Supply (SAA), more than 180 tons (t) were sold, generating revenue of US$222 million. This volume represents an exponential growth of 26% compared to the same period in 2024.

The current exported harvest consisted entirely of grains from São Paulo. The main destinations were, respectively, Russia (22%); China (21%); Algeria (11%); and the Netherlands (7%), which serve as the main gateway to the European bloc. The considerable increase in shipments to the Chinese market (35,000 tons) in a short period of time has caught the attention of industry representatives.

For IEA researcher Renata Martins Sampaio, China's need to supply the domestic market was crucial to increasing Brazilian exports. "China is the world's leading producer of peanuts, accounting for just over 35% of total production. It is also the world's largest consumer. Therefore, Chinese production was not sufficient to meet domestic consumption," Martins Sampaio noted.

Currently, national production is approximately 1 million tons of the product for the confectionery and oil markets, placing Brazil as the sixth largest exporter of high-quality grains.

Another highlight of the 2024/2025 harvest was the significant increase in peanut oil exports, which grew by over 170%, totaling 98 tons, destined mainly for China (87%) and Italy (13%). Considered a true delicacy for its distinctive flavor, purity, and nutritional qualities, the product has gained even more traction in the international market. "The oil is naturally rich in polyunsaturated fats, especially Omega-6, which contributes to strengthening the immune system and cardiovascular health. It also provides vitamin E, essential for cellular protection, as well as antioxidants such as resveratrol, a substance associated with the prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer's," explains nutritionist Sizele Rodrigues, from the Food Security Directorate (COSALI), affiliated with SAA.

State Scenario

São Paulo is the largest national producer, accounting for approximately 86% of the country's output and the leading exporter of the legume. According to the IEA, the state produces, on average, over 700 tons per year. The main producing regions are, respectively, the municipalities of Tupã (13,6%), Marília (12,7%), and Jaboticabal (12,2%).

For Alberto Amorim, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, the performance of São Paulo's peanut industry is the result of a combination of research, innovation, and sectoral governance. "The peanut sector is a source of pride for São Paulo's agricultural sector, not only for its historic production and export figures, but also for the solid scientific foundation built by the Agronomic Institute (IAC-Apta), responsible for varieties that have transformed the crop's competitiveness. This advancement was only possible thanks to the tireless work of the Peanut Sector Chamber, which has led, in exemplary fashion, the development and integration of this production chain in our state for over 10 years," he emphasized.

The IAC is a leading center for peanut research in Brazil. "The IAC's peanut genetic improvement program in Campinas is internationally renowned and is responsible for 80% of the peanut varieties cultivated in Brazil," says Ignácio José de Godoy, an IAC researcher.