São Paulo – In spite of the drop by 1% in exports in 2013, Brazilian agribusiness had an increase by 4.3% in foreign sales last year. The revenue obtained in the international market reached US$ 99.97 billion, that is an increase of US$ 4.16 billion in relation to 2012, according to the information released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) of Brazil this Monday (13), at the end of the day.
The product that registered highest exports was the soy complex (grain, chaff and oil), with US$ 30.9 billion. The soy complex represented 31% of Brazilian agriculture and livestock exports. Soy grains had US$ 22.81 billion of this total, a record, with an increase by US$ 5.36 billion over the previous year. The volume exported also increased, from 32.9 million tons in 2012 to 42.8 million tons in 2013.
Last year China surpassed the European Union and has now become the greatest importer of the Brazilian agribusiness sector. Chinese purchases from Brazil reached US$ 22.8 billion, with an increase by US$ 4.91 billion over 2012. This means that the country was responsible for the total increase in exports in the sector in 2013.
Agriculture and livestock imports also increased in Brazil last year, by 4%, reaching US$ 17.06 billion. The result of the agribusiness foreign trade balance was positive for Brazil by US$ 82.9 billion. Although the country also registers imports in the segment, traditionally it’s exports are higher than imports.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, due to the record harvest estimated for 2014 by the National Supply Company, of 196.6 million tons, and the possibility of opening new markets, agribusiness exports are expected to continue to increase this year.
* Translated by Silvia Lindsey
