Trends in the Production and Foreign Trade of Plant-Based Agricultural Commodities in the Mercosur Countries in 1991–2023 and Development Projections Until 2030
Abstract
Aim
The aim of the study was to identify the directions of change in the production and foreign trade of plant-based agricultural commodities in MERCOSUR countries.
Material and methods
The study presents changes in the level and structure of agricultural land use, as well as changes in the cultivated area, output, yields, and exports of the main crop commodities, namely soybeans, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, sugar cane, and sugar, over the period 1991–2023. Based on the identified trends, development projections up to 2030 were formulated.
Results
Between 1991 and 2023, the MERCOSUR countries experienced a decline of the area of meadows and pastures, as well as permanent crops, accompanied by an expansion of arable land. The increase in arable land was the dominant factor behind the growing scale of cultivation, production, and exports. The area under soybean cultivation, soybean output, and soybean exports increased substantially, particularly in Brazil. Similar trends were observed for the cultivated area, production, and exports of maize, sugar cane, and sugar. Wheat production and exports also increased, with the most significant growth recorded in Argentina; a comparable pattern was observed for barley. Sorghum cultivation area and production expanded, whereas exports declined. The principal export destinations for plant-based agricultural commodities from the MERCOSUR countries were the markets of Asia and Africa.
Conclusions
Soybeans and maize remain the key crops in the MERCOSUR countries in terms of cultivated area, production volume, and export performance, with further growth projected through 2030. The projections indicate an increasing concentration of production and exports within individual countries: Brazil in soybeans, maize, sugar cane, and sugar, and Argentina in wheat and barley. The growth in the production of most crops results both from the expansion of cultivated area and improvements in yields, although extensive factors remain predominant in the case of sugar cane. These trends strengthen the competitiveness of MERCOSUR agriculture while simultaneously intensifying challenges for the European Union agricultural sector in the context of trade liberalization.
© 2026 Aneta Mikuła, Stanisław Stańko, published by The Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics – National Research Institute
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