São Paulo – This Thursday (27), Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA) published an assessment of its international operations over the course of 2018. According to the ministry, Brazil is closing the year once again as the world biggest producer and exporter of sugar, coffee and orange juice, as well as the biggest exporter of soy, bovine and poultry meat. The country sells abroad 30% of what it produces. MAPA estimates that agribusiness foreign sales will end 2018 with revenues around USD 100 billion, a 4% increase over 2017.
The ministry participated on 13 trade missions visiting 20 countries in 2018, including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Sanitary and phytosanitary issues were negotiated with 130 nations. This resulted in the opening of markets for 24 Brazilian products in 12 different countries, such as Saudi Arabia, which now allows imports of livestock, honey and honey-based products, bovine semen, bovine embryos, hatching eggs and day-old chicks. Morocco allowed purchases of turkey genetic material from Brazil.
The ministry highlighted the importance of the work of the agricultural attachés at Brazilian embassies for the export growth. The country maintains professionals from the area in its diplomatic representations in 12 countries, at the European Union and at the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the Arab world, there is an agricultural attaché at Brazilian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to MAPA, six new attachés were nominated this year, including one for Egypt and one for Morocco.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
