BRAZIL

Feedback from the Trade on Their Plans and Interest in the USA Pear Season:

Importers are working with South American pears and a reminder of Portuguese pears. As far as NW Pears season they were happy with the outcome and are already making plans for the next season, freight is the main concern, as well as the domestic consumption level.

Expectations for Any Freight or Logistics Challenges:

A concerne on the international scenario, increase of costs, slow transit times and shortage of reefer containers are on the table. Planning is key!

Opportunities in Your Market for Specific Varieties, Sizes, and Grades:

Brazil is a Bertlett market, still, good opportunities for the Green and Red Anjous are there, increase in volume, and sizes might be on the radar for the next season.

Update on the Competition in the Market:

Argentina is in full swing now, after the Fruit Attraction Sao Paulo show, which brought many exporters to the main consumption region in Brazil, the overall opinion is that Argentina will end sooner their Bartlett exports, weather related issues and storage quality issues are among the reasons. As far as other varieties, such anjous and Packhams, the talks are that there is volume but they do have issues like the Barletts, different than the previous seasons, exporters are already offering/shipping some Packhams now. Chile also is shipping some packhams and a small volume of Bartletts at this point. Forelles are their main variety and it seems it will have a good movement during the season. Portuguese Rocha pear has another couple of months of shipments, quality is the main concern, the portuguese rocha crop is suffering a lot with growing diseases and weather challenges, reducing the volume of fruit available to fresh sales and a reduction of planted area. The other European regions are ok, Conferences has a very small space and presence, steady. Spain and Italy might comeback later in the year, expecting the weather to determine the level of exports.

Political or Economic Issues Impacting Imports, Retail, or Consumer Behavior:

Brazil has its presidential election in October, so this period is of many moves on the political scenario. Economy is going sideways, like many other emerging/under developed economies. The international scenario plays a big role in the outcomes within the country. Consumption at retail level has decreased during 2025 fiscal year raising some concerns on the grocery retail sector, january market a slight comeback, but still behind expectations. One huge talk is around the large increase in the "Cash & Carry" retail system in the country and the overall increase of number of stores, same amount of consumers shopping in many more numbers of stores.

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