Garlic imports fall in Brazil while the country advances in production

In 2021, garlic imports fell in Brazil by 35% compared to 2020, totaling 125,700 tons, while Brazilian production jumped from 132,000 to 168,100 tons. These data, shared by the National Supply Company (CONAB), reveal that for the first time in five years, Brazilians used more national garlic than imported products.

"We broke a production record in 2021 thanks to the growing investment in technology, which made us jump from an average of 14 tons to 18 tons per hectare in a few years," says Rafael Jorge Corsino, president of the Brazilian Association of Garlic Producers. (ANAPA). The harvest numbers of the association exceed those of CONAB: production of 240,000 tons (24,000 boxes of 10 kilograms). An increase of 20% compared to 2020, for an estimated consumption of 360,000 tons.

In addition, Chinese garlic, which has dominated the market in recent years, lost ground last year against Argentina, due to logistical difficulties and the lack of containers, which made the Chinese product much more expensive: 76,000 tons (the equivalent of 60, 5%) came from the neighboring country and only 44,700 tons from China, compared to 193,000 tons in 2020.

Corsino explains that China had been increasing its exports to Brazil, despite the renewal of the antidumping duty of US$0.78 per kilo.

Garlic imports fall in Brazil while the country advances in production PDF