May 18, 2026
Conab May Report - Soy up 0.94 mt to 180.1, Corn up 0.6 mt to 140.1
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
In their May Crop Report released last Thursday, Conab increased the 2025/26 Brazilian soybean estimate 940,000 tons from last month to 180.12 million and they increased the corn estimate 600,000 tons to 140.17 million.
Brazil's soybean acreage was increased 240,000 hectares compared to April to 48.17 million hectares (118.9 million acres). This represents an increase of 2.9% compared to last year. The soybean yield increased slightly to 3,698 kg/ha (55.1 bu/ac), which was up 0.1 bushels from last month. Compared to last year, soybean yields are up 2.1%. Production of 180.12 million tons represents an increase of 8.6 million tons or 5% compared to the 2024/25 production of 171,48 million.
While Brazil's 2025/26 corn production was increased, individual corn crops had mixed results. Production of the first corn crop was increased 500,000 tons to 28.46 million. The first corn crop acreage declined 20,000 hectares to 4.08 million (10.07 million acres) while the yield increased 2.3 bushels to 110.6 bu/ac.
Production of the safrinha corn crop declined 660,000 tons from last month to 108.45 million. Safrinha corn acreage was unchanged from last month at 17.79 million hectares (43.9 million acres) while the yield declined 0.6 bushels to 96.9 bu/ac. Safrinha corn acreage in 2025/26 is up 2.1% compared to last year, but yields are down 6.2%
Brazil's third corn crop production was increased 770,000 tons to 3.25 million. The third crop corn acreage increased 89,000 hectares to 3.25 million (8.0 million acres) and the yield increased 9.2 bushels to 76.4 bu/ac. The third corn crop is produced almost exclusively in northeastern Brazil by small family farmers with acreage and yields heavily dependent on local rainfall. Rainfall in northeastern Brazil was heavier than normal in early 2026 encouraging farmers to increase their corn acreage.
The first corn crop represents 20.3% of Brazil's total corn production with the safrinha crop representing 77.3% and the third crop representing 2.3%. Brazil's 2025/26 corn production of 140.1 million tons represents a decline of 0.98 million from 2024/25 or 0.7%.