São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports generated US$ 4.15 billion in January, a 10.4% reduction over the same period last year, according to figures disclosed on Wednesday (11) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. According to the Ministry, the reduction in the prices of the main commodities exported by Brazil had a great influence in this result.
Foreign sales of meats, for example, dropped 26% to US$ 784 million in January. Raw beef was the item that had the worst performance, as there was a reduction of 25% in the average price paid by importers, 38.4% in the volume shipped and 54% in revenues with exports. The value of raw chicken shipments dropped 11.4%.
Exports of the soy complex (grain, oil and chaff) generated US$ 640 million, a reduction of 9.1% over January 2008. In this area, the villain was soy oil, whose shipments totalled US$ 87 million, a reduction of 62.6%. Sales of soy chaff and grain grew, respectively 36% and 0.8%.
Other products posted growth in exports, according to the Ministry, like sugar and alcohol, which registered foreign sales of US$ 659 million, growth of 64% in comparison with the same month last year, and maize, with US$ 228.4 million, growth of 166.5%.
One of the countries that stood out as a destination for agribusiness for Brazilian agribusiness products in January was Saudi Arabia, whose purchases rose 30%, according to the Ministry. This performance was influenced by shipments of maize, sugar and soy oil. Other prominent markets were Venezuela, with growth of 36%, China (10%), Belgium (9%), Hong Kong (16%), South Korea (62%) and India (145%).
With regard to destinations, there was only growth in exports to Asia (28%), Latin America (19%) and Oceania (103.7%).
With the 30% depreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar from January 2008 to January 2009, the value of exports in the month grew 16.4% in the Brazilian currency, reaching 9.6 billion reals.
*Translated by Mark Ament
