São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Middle East totaled USD 1.336 billion in the first two months, an increase of 22.8% over the same period of last year, according to data made public this Friday (10) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).
With the result, the share held by the region in total foreign sales by the sector went from 9.3% in January and February of 2016 to 11.3% in the first two months of 2017. The Middle East came at the third position among the blocs that imported the most products from Brazil, trailing only Asia and the European Union.
Among countries, Saudi Arabia came at the fourth position among top buyers from Brazil in the first two months, trailing China, United States and Holland. Agribusiness exports to the Arab nation generated USD 426.5 million, an increase of near 30% over the same period of last year.
Another Arab country in the list of top importers from Brazil in the first months of 2017 is Algeria, with purchases worth USD 223 million, up 42% over January and February 2016.
In February, exports by the Brazilian agribusiness to the Middle East totaled USD 648 million, an increase of 3.4% in comparison to the same month of last year.
According to MAPA, the performance was improved by shipments of soy, poultry, beef and raw sugar. “The expansion of sales to the region could have been even sharper if not for the declines in exports of maize grains, soy bran and refined sugar,” said the ministry in a statement.
Last month, once more Saudi Arabia placed fourth among Brazil’s top importers. Meanwhile, Algeria dropped to the 18th position.
Total
Total exports by Brazilian agribusiness in February generated USD 5.93 billion, a decline of 11.6% over the same month of last year. Shipments by the sugar and alcohol and paper and wood pulp sectors declined.
In the first two months, foreign sales of Brazilian agribusiness totaled USD 11.8 billion, an increase of 0.9% over the first two months of 2016.
The soy complex (grains, bran and oil) was the highlight of exports in January and February. Besides being the group of products at the top of domestic sales, it also registered a strong surge in shipments: 65% in February and 61% in the first two months of the year.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani