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Rice from Southern Santa Catarina gains new momentum with long-term contract to supply countries in Central America, open international front for Brazilian production and help reduce pressure from an internal market marked by high stock, high costs, and demand below supply
The rice sector in Southern Santa Catarina has closed an export partnership with Central America at a decisive moment for the Brazilian production chain. Cooperja, identified as the leading rice cooperative in Brazil, has consolidated a 10-year contract with Cemersa, an agro-industrial company from El Salvador, to supply Brazilian grains to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras.
This movement draws attention as it emerges as a breath of fresh air for an industry pressured by production costs exceeding the final product value and by production surpassing consumption volume. By early May, a small boat is expected to leave Brazil heading to Central America carrying about 20 tons of rice, a volume that, according to the forecast provided in the partnership, corresponds to 400,000 sacks.
What changes with the new export contract for Brazilian rice
The new agreement represents an important change for the rice industry by opening a more structured outlet for the external market. Instead of relying solely on sporadic opportunities, the sector will now work with a long-term commitment aimed at five Central American countries, supported by a 10-year contract.
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In practice, this means creating an alternative to the internal market precisely during a crisis period. For producers and the industry, export can serve as a balancing valve in a scenario of excess supply and pressured prices in Brazil.
The numbers that explain the weight of the agreement
Some data help to gauge the importance of the operation. The contract signed is valid for 10 years, which in itself already shows the strategic dimension of the partnership. The first shipment is scheduled for May, departing from Brazilian territory towards El Salvador.
Another central number is the initial volume reported by the partnership. The forecast is for the export of 20,000 tons of grain, while the first shipment mentioned is expected to carry about 20 tons of rice, a quantity associated with 400,000 sacks according to the information released. Additionally, the negotiation process has been discussed for eight years, which reinforces the historical weight of the agreement’s closure.
Why export is seen as a breath of fresh air for a sector in crisis
According to Cooperja’s president, Vanir Zanatta, the contract arrives at a critical moment for the rice industry in Brazil. The sector has been facing a difficult combination in recent years: production costs exceeding the final product value, high stocks, and supply greater than demand.
In this context, export appears as a concrete possibility to relieve pressure on the internal market. The logic is simple: if part of the production leaves the country, the sector can regain some balance between supply and demand and face the projected price scenario for 2026 with less pressure.
What is behind the pressure on rice prices in Brazil
The situation described by the sector shows an unbalanced internal market. According to Vanir Zanatta, the harvest was good, last year’s stock remains high, and the trend for 2026 is not positive in terms of prices. This combination creates direct pressure on those who produce and market rice in the country.
When production grows above consumption, the effect usually appears in the final product value. Therefore, the international contract has gained so much relevance. It is not treated merely as a new sale, but as a tool to reduce part of the surplus supply that currently weighs on prices.
Why Central America sought Brazilian rice
According to Cemersa’s representative, Omar Salazar Castro, the main reason for choosing Brazilian rice was quality. He emphasized that the national agro-industry, especially in Southern Santa Catarina, knows how to produce with quality and sustainability, characteristics that influenced the decision to seek supply in Brazil.
This interpretation enhances the value of the agreement. It’s not just about selling surplus, but about transforming the quality of Brazilian products into a gateway for a more lasting commercial relationship with Central American markets that need reliable supply.
How the partnership was built over eight years
The negotiation between Cemersa, in El Salvador, and Cooperja, in Brazil, was mediated by Origrains, a company that operates in grain export. According to Rodrigo Veiga, a representative of the corporation, discussions about the export of Brazilian **rice** to El Salvador have been ongoing for eight years.
This timeframe shows that the contract was not born from a momentary opportunity. The proposal was matured with a focus on strategy and sustainability, precisely to provide more comfort to farmers and reduce exclusive dependence on the domestic market.
What this means for the producer and the rice industry
For those at the end of the chain, the agreement has practical weight. Exports can help the industry regain some balance and provide more predictability to the sector, especially if the exported volume grows in the coming years. This movement tends to benefit not only the cooperative involved but also the market perception of Brazilian **rice**.
The most important point is that the partnership creates an exit route at a time when the sector needs to diversify destinations and reduce vulnerability to domestic market behavior. The more solid this international front is, the greater the relief tends to be for producers and industries pressured by tight margins.
The next steps of the contract and what can still advance
The first concrete step is expected to happen in early May, with the initial shipment heading to Central America. The expectation is that this movement will mark the beginning of a broader relationship between the parties and open space for growth in the exported volume throughout the contract.
Furthermore, the discussion is not limited to sending raw materials to processing industries. According to Rodrigo Veiga, there is also debate about the export of **rice** ready for consumption, which could further increase the added value of the operation in future developments.
Why this agreement draws so much attention in Southern Santa Catarina
The partnership gained prominence because it combines three factors that weigh heavily on the sector’s current reality. First, it comes after eight years of discussions. Second, it emerges at a time of crisis for the **rice** chain. Third, it offers a concrete solution for production facing supply and price pressure in the Brazilian market.
For Southern Santa Catarina, the contract also reinforces the region’s image as a hub for quality production and agro-industrial capacity. In a challenging scenario for the sector, closing a 10-year international agreement helps transform a crisis into an opportunity for commercial repositioning.
In your opinion, can rice exports to Central America truly help alleviate the crisis and restore price balance in the Brazilian market?
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