Although drought has brought down Brazil’s soybean production this season causing the country’s crop bureau, Conab to cut its crop estimate to 85.44 million tons, the bureau is predicting a significant increase in output for the county for next season because of an increase in sowing of more than 2.3 million hectares and increased yields from improved seeds. Brazilian soybean exports for 2014/15 are expected to reach 50 million tons- up from the 46 million tons expected to ship this season and exceeding the forecast for the U.S. of 43.5 million tons. The expected increase in exports is due to the extension of Brazil’s traditional soybean export season from February through June to January through July and improvements in efficiencies to Brazil’s troublesome infrastructure. The first phase of construction of a 10 million ton grain terminal at the port of Itaqui is scheduled to be finished next month, the BR-163 road connecting Mato Grosso to the port of Santarem is underway, and work has begun on the West-East railroad connecting Mato Grosso to Atlantic ports.
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