Brasília – Agribusiness exports should represent US$ 75 billion in the Brazilian trade balance this year, according to the International Relations director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Célio Porto. According to him, the country has strengthened its participation in several markets in 2010, contributing to maintenance of the good performance of foreign sales in the sector.
Despite the lower volume of exports of many products, like beef, there was compensation in terms of prices, "despite the depreciation of the dollar [as against the Brazilian real]", said the secretary. Agribusiness export revenues dropped 9.8% in 2009 as against the previous year, reaching US$ 64.7 billion. The volume of shipments last year remained practically stable as against 2008, with reduction of 0.4%.
According to Célio Porto, expectations for 2011 are for good results to reduce the losses the country had with the global crisis, reflected in 2009. With this, he added, Brazil may "repeat the positive figures" of 2008 – a record year for exports. On Thursday (25), the secretary participated in a meeting with representatives of the agriculture and livestock sectors, in Brasília. They met to discuss the business strategies that Brazil plans to develop in the foreign market in 2011.
This year, according to Célio Porto, Brazil has not faced many phystossanitary restrictions. To him, acceptance by the United States of the state of Santa Catarina as an area free of foot-and-mouth disease was a good sign. According to the secretary, one of the important strategies for next year is working for the expansion of sales of chicken to Japan, China and South Korea, and to open space for exports of pork in those nations.
Still according to Célio Porto, Japan should send a delegation to Brazil in the first quarter of 2011. The Ministry of Agriculture, in turn, should send a delegation to Malaysia, where Brazil plans to intensify promotional actions turned to the sale of tobacco.
In 2010, Brazil had good results in the sale of sugar to India, which was always a potential competitor and has become a buyer, said Célio Porto. With regard to Russia, he added, next year, there are forecasts for demand of wheat, at favourable prices. Due to the drought, that country will need to import grain.
The secretary also defended the greater professionalism of structures of the sectors connected to exports and the integration between the government and private initiative to overcome important trade barriers in the European Union and the United States. For such, complemented Célio Porto, the country must base itself on "scientific principles" in the areas of agricultural and livestock products.
To the Agricultural Defence secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Francisco Jardim, Brazil should make a great effort to rewin the meat market in Europe in 2011. According to him, the European block used to purchase the product from 15,500 properties in the country. Now, this total has dropped to 2,200.
Exports of beef to Europe have already generated around US$ 1.4 billion a year, but should total US$ 400 million this year. For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture considers it fundamental to develop actions to increase the participation of beef in the European market.
*Translated by Mark Ament
