High European demand drives sharp rise in Brazil’s melon exports

Brazilian melon exports surged in September, reaching 32 000 tons — a 279% increase compared to August and 39% ahead of September 2024 — with export revenues up 60 % year-on-year, according to local media.

This momentum is closely linked to the end of Spain’s melon season, particularly in the Castilla-La Mancha region, where volumes were down. As a result, Brazilian shipments to Europe rose sharply, supported by steady supply from Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará regions.

The variety driving much of the export growth is the Piel de Sapo melon, primarily destined for key markets such as the Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Argentina.

Meanwhile, domestic production dynamics portray mixed results: in the state of Tocantins, the 2025 season saw an average yield of 36 tons per hectare (a 21% increase over the previous year), but increasing costs — labour, fuel, land rental and inputs rose by about 25% — squeezed profitability, with net margins falling roughly 10% compared with 2024.

With production costs expected to remain elevated into 2026, experts anticipate that Brazil’s melon industry will rely heavily on high productivity and strong international demand to sustain growth.

source: abrafrutas.org

photo: tridge.com