Paraná's Milk Collection Surges, Narrowing Gap with Minas Gerais

In the first quarter of 2026, the state of Paraná in Brazil saw a significant 8.8% rise in milk collection, marking a noteworthy advancement over other major milk-producing states in the country. This increase brought the total milk collected by the local industry to nearly 1.1 billion liters between January and March, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), compiled by the Department of Rural Economy of the Paraná State Department of Agriculture.

This growth has reinforced Paraná's position as the second-largest milk-collecting state in Brazil, while also reducing its gap with Minas Gerais, the national leader, which only saw a 1.6% increase during the same period. The figures suggest a potential shift in the relative contributions of these key dairy production areas.

The entire Southern region of Brazil recorded increases in milk collection, with Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul showing growth rates of 5.6% and 7.5%, respectively. A key factor contributing to this trend was the increased availability of grains in the region, which supported dairy activities and led to higher volumes being directed to the industry.

The expansion of milk collection in Paraná highlights the state's growing competitiveness within the dairy sector, increasing its share among major suppliers for industrial processing. This movement not only emphasizes the state's role but also indicates a broader trend of concentrated raw material expansion in significant southern producing regions.

At the end of the first quarter, the primary takeaway from the data is not just the growth in collection but also the narrowing gap between Paraná and the national leader Minas Gerais, which enhances Paraná's prominence on Brazil's dairy map.