UHT milk rises 18.3% in April and puts pressure on budget

Those who went to the supermarket in April were alarmed by the price of UHT milk, which rose 18.3%, according to the study "Price Variations: Brazil & Regions", carried out by Neogrid. The average price of the product rose from R$4.75 in March to R$5.62 in April.

The appreciation occurred amid the reduction in national production. According to the Milk Collection Index (ICAP-L), collection fell 3.9% from February to March and represents a decline of 11.1% in the first three months of the year.

The movement reflects seasonal factors, with a reduced supply of pastures, in addition to producers' caution after a 2025 marked by tight margins.

Followingly, other basic categories also registered an increase in prices. Cheese went from R$63.61 to R$65.12 (+2.4%), while beans rose from R$7.51 to R$7.67 (2.1%). Vegetables increased by 2% and bread grew by 1.8%.

"The data shows concentrated pressure on essential categories that are more sensitive to seasonality, such as dairy products and produce, keeping consumers more attentive to prices and the composition of the shopping basket", explains Marcelo Alves, Head of Insights at Neogrid.

Accumulated pressure in the year

In the accumulated period, between December 2025 and April this year, vegetables continue to lead inflation in food retail, with an increase of 25.3%, rising from R$5.50 to R$6.89. This was followed by UHT milk (21.7%), beans (20.5%), eggs (13.4%) and beef (6.6%), reinforcing the pressure on essential items in the basic food basket.

"For the coming months, the trend is for volatility to continue in categories that are more sensitive to supply and climate, such as dairy products, produce and basic food items. At the same time, industrialized categories and some proteins should remain more stable, supported by greater competitiveness in retail and cost accommodation", adds Alves.

Price variations in April 2026 in the Southeast

In the Southeast region, the categories that showed the highest price increase were UHT milk (20.19%), bread (4.1%), toothpaste (1.6%), bleach (1.6%) and rice (1.4%). On the other hand, the main declines were observed in pork (-5.9%), eggs (-4.8%), sugar (-3.1%), coffee powder and grains (-3%) and disinfectant (-1.8%).

Brazilian milk production grows 7.2% in 2025 | CNN AGRO MONEY

Source: CNN