Trump’s trade war has cemented Brazil’s place as the soybean superpower, says The Economist

Monday, October 13th 2025 - 07:48 UTC

Full article 2 comments

They say no one wins a trade war. Certainly, there are fewer bigger losers than soybean farmers in the United States. Since May China, by far their biggest customer, has refused to buy a single bushel in retaliation for Donald Trump’s tariffs. The spat is ruining farmers in Illinois; Mr Trump is set to announce a US$10bn agricultural-relief package. It is also raising costs for crushers in China’s Shandong province, who press beans into animal feed and cooking oil. But there has been one big winner: soybean producers in Brazil. The rift between American farmers and their Chinese clients has let Brazil cement its place as the world’s soybean superpower. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Brasileiro
A superpower, yes, but not just in soybeans. Corn, cotton, sorghum, animal protein, cocoa, mango, orange, coffee, tropical fruits (all).

Brazil has arrived, folks!

By 2030, Brazil will produce 500 million tons of grain. Second place won't produce even half that.

“The world eats out of our hand” lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdBPMHu_sXE
Oct 13th, 2025 - 11:16 am - Link - Report abuse -1
-+
Pugol-H
You’re forgetting to factor in climate change effects, last year Brazil had its worst ever floods, drought, fires and storm.

All of which is only going to get worse, much worse.

Include all that in your predictions and then look at what your agricultural production will be.

You will be lucky if you can feed yourselves.
Oct 13th, 2025 - 11:47 am - Link - Report abuse +1
-+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!