The revision of data for Brazil’s 2019/20 corn crop presented some important information and with signs of concern further ahead. A slightly better summer crop due to the revision of the planted area and excellent performance of the North and Northeast regions are the production highlights of this first semester. However, the second crop brought a certain surprise with cuts in area and potential productivity for some states due to the climatic condition of this moment. A worsening dry climate in April could reduce the production levels of the second crop. This issue is being offset by record areas in Mato Grosso and Goiás, as well as by the good condition of the second crop.
Crop conditions for Brazil in 2020 have been different this year. The summer crop in the Center-South region presented an area close to that of 2019 due to the switch of some areas mainly from beans to corn in December. This situation corrected the Brazilian output to 23.2 million tons, even so well below the past crop’s 24.8 million tons. There were losses in Rio Grande do Sul and in the Center-South this year.