Rice/Cepea: Domestic price remains below export parity in Mar/25

A survey by Cepea shows that, in March, the average CEPEA/IRGA-RS paddy rice Indicator (58% of whole grains and cash payment) was R$82.21/50 kg bag, a decrease of 14.09% compared to the previous month. Thus, the Indicator was R$14.54/bag below the average export price and R$5.81/bag below the average import value. According to Secex data analyzed by Cepea, 134.67 thousand tons of the cereal were shipped in March, a volume 171% higher than that of February/25. National exporters received an average of US$$ 336.96/ton, equivalent to R$$ 96.75/50 kg bag FOB (Free On Board) for the product at the port of shipment – the strong depreciation of 23.07% from February/25 to March/25 in the amount paid for the Brazilian product is noteworthy. The average dollar exchange rate was R$$ 5.74 in March. Regarding imports, 105.54 thousand tons of rice (in husk basis) were acquired last month, 25.29% below the figures for February/25. The average FOB (Free On Board) value of imported rice was US$$ 306.53/t, or R$$ 88.02/50 kg bag, a drop of 6.36% also in the monthly comparison, according to figures from Secex. With shipments exceeding purchases, there was a surplus of 29.13 thousand tons in the rice trade balance in March/25, which had not been seen since December/24, according to Cepea's analysis.