Agência Brasil*
Brasília – Brazilian agribusiness exports reached US$ 4.776 billion in March and exceeded in 6.4% those of March 2007. In the accumulated result for the last 12 years, the value is record, US$ 60.5 billion. Excluding the US$ 837 million in imports, the March surplus was US$ 3.939 billion.
In the first quarter, the products exported generated US$ 13.9 billion in revenues, an increase of 17.8% over the same period last year.
Despite the reduction in revenues of some products, those of the main sectors grew: meats, 15.5%, soy, 6.7% and coffee, 14.8%, reflecting the increase in foreign prices, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Maize and rice stand out due to the steady growth of exports. In the first case, revenues rose 154.2%, and the volume exported, 117.4% and the prices, 16.9%. In the second, an item traditionally imported by the country, sales represented US$ 12.8 million in the year, growth of 375.4% in volume and 38% in prices.
Imports grew 9.1% over March last year and 49.5% in comaprison with the first quarter of 2007. This year the value reached US$ 3 billion and the increases are mainly due to purchases of wheat, barley and paper.
The United States is the main destination for agribusiness exports, with US$ 450 million in March, followed by the Netherland, with US$ 420 million – 13% more than one year ago. Despite the European Union embargo to raw cattle beef, the economic bloc raised purchases of Brazilian products by 6.9%.
*Translated by Mark Ament