Agrishow 2026 Sees 22% Drop in Business Intentions Amid Sector Challenges

The 31st edition of Agrishow, Latin America's premier agribusiness technology fair held in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, concluded on May 1, 2026, with business intentions totaling R$ 11.4 billion. This represents a significant 22% decline from the previous year's R$ 14.6 billion to R$ 16.4 billion as reported by different sources, reflecting broader pressures in Brazil's agricultural machinery sector.

Despite the decline in business volume, attendance remained robust with approximately 197,000 visitors over five days, consistent with last year's figures. The early opening on the event’s final day underlined high public demand.

The downturn aligns with a reported 19.9% drop in domestic sales of agricultural machinery and equipment during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to Pedro Estevão, president of the Brazilian Association of Machinery and Equipment Industry (Abimaq). Estevão highlighted the impact of high interest rates, currency fluctuations, and unfavorable commodity prices as main factors driving this contraction. Additionally, increased delinquency among producers and geopolitical tensions, particularly affecting fertilizer and diesel prices, have intensified challenges faced by farmers making investments.

João Carlos Marchesan, president of Agrishow, described the situation as a "perfect storm" for the agricultural sector—characterized by rising production costs and shrinking profit margins that have led farmers to delay investments. He also acknowledged the resilience and competence of Brazilian farmers and machinery manufacturers, maintaining optimism for recovery, especially forecasting growth from 2027 onwards.

Among responses to the downturn, Marchesan mentioned a newly announced R$ 10 billion government funding program aimed at supporting machinery purchases. However, this credit was not accessible during the fair, limiting immediate impact on pre-event investments.

Exhibitors noted a mixed atmosphere: while some reported fewer casual visitors, they observed a more qualified profile of buyers. Companies like Prix/Toledo do Brasil and Tritucap exceeded sales targets during the fair by offering special terms and capitalizing on quality leads.

In summary, Agrishow 2026 highlighted the current difficulties in Brazil’s agribusiness machinery sector but also underscored sustained interest in agricultural technologies and an underlying confidence in the sector’s cyclical recovery potential.