Sorghum is gaining ground and advancing as an alternative to corn.

Sorghum has been expanding its presence in Brazilian fields and consolidating itself as a strategic alternative in regions with higher climate risk. According to the Radar Agro report by Itaú BBA, national production should reach 6,9 million tons in the 2025/26 harvest, more than double the volume recorded five years ago.

The growth of sorghum cultivation is driven by agronomic characteristics that favor its adaptation to more challenging environments. Among the main factors are greater water use efficiency, requiring approximately 350 mm throughout its cycle, compared to about 600 mm for corn, tolerance to water deficit, and viable disease management. Furthermore, sorghum exhibits high adaptability and can maintain productivity levels even under adverse conditions.

In direct comparison with corn, its main competitor in the second crop season, sorghum stands out for its more aggressive root system, which increases its capacity to explore water and nutrients in the soil. This characteristic reinforces its use in areas with water limitations or lower fertility.

Traditionally used for animal feed production, sorghum is also diversifying its applications. Depending on the variety, it can be used in the production of grains, forage, silage, soil cover, as well as biomass, alcohol, and even brooms. Among these segments, grain sorghum is the one showing the greatest recent growth.

Foreign market and opportunities

In international trade, Brazil still exports modest volumes of sorghum, restricted to seasonal windows. In 2024, South Africa concentrated practically all of the external demand. However, in 2025, an agreement signed with China simplified the export process by eliminating the need for prior inspection by Chinese authorities, requiring only product authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Brazilian Association of Corn and Sorghum Producers (Abramilho) expects that part of the 2024/25 harvest will already be destined for the Chinese market. The international scenario also opens up opportunities for Brazil, especially given the trade tensions between China and the United States — the main global supplier, which sends about 80% of its production to the Asian country.

Prices and costs favor the culture.

Sorghum prices are strongly correlated with corn, exceeding 98% in major producing regions, as both are direct substitutes in feed formulation. Despite this, the cereal is not traded on exchanges, which limits price protection instruments, with hedging via corn being the main alternative.

From an economic standpoint, sorghum has an advantage in terms of cost. In Goiás, for example, the cost of production is estimated at R$ 2.205 per hectare, compared to R$ 3.650/ha for corn — a difference of 65%. The break-even point is also lower: 47 sacks per hectare, compared to 59 sacks for corn.

This difference makes sorghum a more defensive option in scenarios with higher climate risk. According to Itaú BBA estimates, if corn productivity falls below 77 sacks per hectare, the profitability of the two crops tends to equalize. Below this level, sorghum offers a better risk-return ratio.

Expansion prospects

The trend for the coming years is for gradual growth in the crop, supported by structural factors. Sorghum should gain ground as a risk management tool on farms, in a context of greater climate irregularity and the need for productive diversification.

The increased demand from ethanol plants, especially in the North-Central and Matopiba regions, also reinforces the potential for expansion by creating a more stable market that is less dependent on animal feed consumption.

In the field, the development of new, more productive hybrids that are responsive to fertilization should increase the competitiveness of the cereal, allowing its inclusion in more technologically advanced systems. Furthermore, the advancement of low-carbon agriculture and sustainable practices tends to favor sorghum, which contributes to soil cover and the recovery of degraded areas.

In this scenario, sorghum ceases to be merely a one-off alternative and begins to play a complementary role to corn, especially in areas where traditional cultivation faces economic or climatic limitations. Itaú BBA expects that, over the next few years, sorghum will increase its share of farm income and gain relevance in the Brazilian production system.