From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports reached US$ 7.3 billion between January and February this year, with growth of 25.5% over the same period last year. The value was record for the first two months of the year. Imports totalled US$ 1.2 billion, presenting an increase of 34.4%, and a surplus of US$ 6.054 billion.
The figures were disclosed yesterday (19) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. In the month of February, exports totalled US$ 3.483 billion, with growth of 20.7% over the same period in 2006. With imports of US$ 609 million, the trade balance surplus reached US$ 2.873 billion.
The groups of products that most contributed for the expansion in the first quarter of the year were the sugar and alcohol complex, meats, coffee, juice and fruit and forestry products. As individual products, maize, ethanol, tobacco, orange juice, raw sugar, raw cattle been and refine sugar were prominent.
Exports to the Middle East grew 47% in the two-month period, 43.7% to Africa and 37% to the European Union (EU). In the accumulated result for the last 12 months, sector exports totalled US$ 50.906 billion, presenting an increase of 15.6%. Expenses with imports reached US$ 7.014 billion and the surplus was US$ 43.892 billion.
*Translated by Mark Ament
