Banana prices fall 22,7% for producers in SC

Between January and February 2025, the banana market in Santa Catarina saw a 22,7% drop in prices paid to producers for the caturra banana due to increased supply. On the other hand, the prata banana saw a 2,8% increase in value, driven by improved fruit quality and increased demand. This data is included in the March Agricultural Bulletin, a monthly publication by the Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning (Epagri/Cepa) that gathers information on harvests and markets for the state's main agricultural products. 

According to the socioeconomic and rural development analyst at Epagri/Cepa, economist Rogério Goulart Júnior, this year the banana-caturra showed a 17% increase in production compared to the previous year, with an estimated 626 thousand tons of the variety to be harvested. “With the increase in supply, there was a devaluation in the prices paid to producers in the first two months of 2025, reaching more than 50% compared to the previous year, which had a lower supply. However, even in this scenario, the fruit grower is managing to maintain an adequate margin, because despite the low price of the fruit, the producer is making a profit on the quantity sold,” explains Rogério.

Meanwhile, between January and February of this year, the prices of the Prata banana increased even with an estimated 15% increase in production, totaling 138 thousand tons in the state. “This occurred due to the improvement in the quality of the fruit due to cultural treatments and the increase in seasonal demand with the return to school, since the variety is one of the main items in school meals,” says the analyst.

Banana market in March

Rogério adds that in March the expectation is for a devaluation in producer prices of around 1,5% with the increase in the supply of caturra bananas and an appreciation of prata bananas of 8,1%, due to the improvement in quality due to milder temperatures in the producing regions. 

According to the analyst, expectations for the price of bananas in March are for prices to fall, but with a smaller drop than in previous months. “With bananas, prices should remain stable with a slight upward trend in the amount paid to the producer,” comments the economist. 

In the domestic market, dwarf and silver bananas are showing a tendency for prices to depreciate in the coming months with the prospect of an increase in supply and demand. In the comparison between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 harvests, the estimate is an increase of 16,8% in banana production (764,1 thousand tons) compared to the previous harvest (653,9 thousand tons) with an increase of 2,6% in the area under production, reaching 28,4 thousand hectares. 

Check out the highlights of other crops produced in Santa Catarina, which were presented at an online event. 

Rice

The month of February and the first ten days of March were marked by a depreciation in rice prices. This behavior was expected, considering the progress of the harvest in the state and the increase in domestic supply. Prices should remain lower in this harvest compared to the previous harvest, due to the expectation of high production in the main producing states and, consequently, an increase in domestic supply. 

In Santa Catarina, in the 2024/25 harvest, the estimated area planted for irrigated rice is 145 thousand hectares, of which approximately 65% ​​has already been harvested, especially on the North Coast, where planting occurs earlier, due to the soybean harvest. Production is expected to be 9,52% higher than that obtained last year.

Bean

In February, the average price received by Santa Catarina producers of carioca beans fell. For black beans, the average price received by producers also fell. In the wholesale market of São Paulo, the main national market for the product, the price of black beans remains calm and with little demand. Due to a good national harvest of first-crop beans, prices remain under pressure. For carioca beans, prices remain stable, the consumer market is saturated and any increase in supply has a negative impact on prices, due to low interest in purchasing.

The first bean harvest in Santa Catarina is practically over, with over 1% of the planted area harvested. Estimates for the month of February indicate an increase in the planted area of ​​approximately 82%. The expected average productivity is also expected to grow by around 10%. As a result, a 13% increase in the production of first-crop beans is expected, reaching nearly 24 thousand tons. 

Regarding the second bean crop, dry weather, high temperatures and unevenly distributed rainfall predominated throughout the state during the month of February. These weather conditions could lead to a reduction in average productivity, since most of the crops are in the vegetative development and early flowering phase. The planted area should remain the same as the previous crop. The expectation is for a slightly smaller crop, with a 2% reduction in production, reaching approximately 1,5 thousand tons.

Wheat

In February, cereal prices in the domestic market remain firm. In the first ten days of March, average prices are expected to continue to rise, with a 2,4% increase compared to the average price in February. With production in warehouses, cooperatives and cereal producers are waiting for prices to rise in order to sell larger volumes. 

As the summer harvest progresses, there may be a need to make room in warehouses to make room for soybean production, which is expected to be abundant in the state. This season, 123 thousand hectares were cultivated, a 10% reduction compared to the previous harvest. State production grew 40,5%, reaching 432 thousand tons.

Corn

In February 2025, the average state price increased by 2,38% compared to January. Even during the harvest period of the first crop in the South of Brazil, prices reacted. The scenario of low domestic stocks and uncertainty about the second crop are influencing the domestic market. For the first state corn crop, the cultivated area decreased by 11,8%. Contributing to this were high production costs, insecurity regarding possible leafhopper attacks, and low prices in 2024. Despite the reduction in the area, a 16% increase in production is expected, which is due to the 32% increase in average productivity, reaching 9 thousand kg/ha, a record in our historical series.

Regarding the second corn crop, which accounts for 2% of the state's production, approximately 8,5% of the planted area has already been sown. For the crops already planted, 92% of them are in the vegetative development phase and 79% have already reached the flowering phase. Crop conditions are good for 21% of the area to be harvested.

Soybean

Soybean prices paid to producers have fallen repeatedly since November 2024. In March, with prices raised in the first 10 days of the month, the trajectory of the price curve in this period indicates a slight recovery. However, expectations of good production in Brazil are high, which could negatively impact the prices received by producers. In addition, the market is reacting to fluctuations in US trade tariffs, which has led to instability and uncertainty that affect soybean prices. Lower demand from China and higher production expectations in Brazil have had a strong influence on the international market.

In the Santa Catarina harvest, we should see a 2,6% increase in the planted area, reaching 832,3 thousand hectares in the first harvest. The expected average productivity should increase by 9,3%, reaching 3.705 kg/ha. With this, a 12,2% increase in production is expected, reaching a harvested volume of 3,1 million tons. Irregular rainfall in January and early February 2025 may affect crops, especially those in the flowering and grain filling phase.

Garlic

In March, the average price of garlic (categories 4-5) for producers in Santa Catarina increased slightly to R$17/kg, remaining stable at R$16,50/kg in February. The wholesale price also increased slightly, reaching R$21,16/kg in early March. The 2024/25 harvest in Santa Catarina has been completed, with 95% of the crops in good condition. 

Although the planted area decreased by 33,84%, production was estimated at 7,23 thousand tons, with a productivity of 10,96 t/ha. Brazilian garlic imports in February totaled 14,62 thousand tons, 7,29% below the same period in 2024. The main suppliers were Argentina, China and Chile.

Onion

In February and early March, the price of onions to producers in Santa Catarina remained below the average production cost, reflecting the high supply in the national market. The average price rose from R$23,44/sc (February) to R$25,34/sc (March), while wholesale prices fell by 11,82% in early March, reaching R$46,00/sc.

The 2024/25 Santa Catarina harvest has been fully harvested. The crop condition was 83% good, 9% considered average and 8% poor. Production is estimated at 556,4 thousand tons. Despite the good crop conditions, producers' profitability was impacted by low prices. In foreign trade, onion imports in 2025 fell drastically compared to the previous year, totaling only 2.891 tons until February, 10,34% of the volume imported in the same period in 2024. Chile and Argentina were the main suppliers.