São Paulo – Exports from the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul grew 22% in the month of May compared with the same month last year, according to information disclosed by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs). The rising food demand, particularly from Asia, had a direct influence on the performance, according to the federation.
China ranked first among foreign destinations of products from the state, having answered to 16% of total exports. Grain and soy oil were the main products shipped. "The expansion of worldwide food consumption, spearheaded by the emerging countries, has led us to obtain positive export results," stated the president at Fiergs, Paulo Tigre.
Despite the rise in foreign sales, the state regressed from the third to the fifth position in the national ranking of exporter states. The industrial sector answered to 78% of foreign sales from Rio Grande do Sul, having totalled US$ 1.3 billion. The foreign trade outlook for 2008 remains positive, and exports should reach US$ 18.9 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
