São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports dropped by 11.4% in April this year compared with the same month last year, and by 8.8% compared with March this year. The figures were disclosed Wednesday (9th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Revenues stood at US$ 7.02 billion. Still, the trade balance showed a US$ 5.7 billion surplus, as agribusiness is a major exporting sector in Brazil.
Sugar and ethanol sales were a major factor in the decline of foreign sales, according to the ministry. Sector exports were down 52%, from US$ 839.2 million in April last year to US$ 367.9 million in April 2012.
Sales of soy bean, oil and chaff also declined by 4.8%, down to US$ 2.9 billion, meat sales were down 2.3% to US$ 1.2 billion, and coffee sales were down 25.5% to US$ 494 million.
The leading export products in terms of revenues generated were soy bean, oil and chaff, meats, forest products, coffee, sugar and ethanol, leathers, grain, flours and preparations, in this order.
The leading export destination was Asia, at US$ 2.8 billion, followed by the European Union, at US$ 1.7 billion, and the Middle East, at US$ 464 million. Brazilian agribusiness sales to the Middle East, which comprises Arab countries, dropped by 15.8%. Exports to Africa, where other Arab countries are located, declined by 29.7% and reached US$ 417.4 million.
Four months
Brazilian agribusiness sales increased by 2.5% from January to April this year and reached US$ 26.4 billion. The trade surplus also rose to US$ 20.8 billion. In the same period of 2011, the surplus was US$ 20.3 billion. Sales of soy bean, oil and chaff impacted strongly on the period results. Other highlight products during the period were tobacco and its products.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
