FINANCIAL WOES

Farm defaults continue to worry Brazil's agro sector

Farmers are contending with increasingly difficult credit conditions. Photo: Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock

Default rates among Brazilian agricultural producers have surged over the past year, eroding profits for traditional lenders and sparking fears of systemic risks in one of the country’s most vital economic sectors.

A recent study by L.E.K. Consulting paints a stark picture. Farmers’ default rates have climbed steadily since early 2024, rising from 3.2% to 9.5% year over year through August 2025.

Unlike previous crises, the current wave of delinquencies appears to be essentially…

🔒 This was a free preview; the rest is behind our paywall

Don’t miss out! Upgrade to unlock full access. The process takes only seconds with Apple Pay or Stripe. Become a member.

Why you should subscribe

We’re here for readers who want to truly understand Brazil and Latin America — a region too often ignored or misrepresented by the international media.

Since 2017, our reporting has been powered by paid subscribers. They’re the reason we can keep a full-time team of journalists across Brazil and Argentina, delivering sharp, independent coverage every day.

If you value our work, subscribing is the best way to keep it going — and growing.

Reply

or to participate