Exports reach a record US$ 50.6 billion in the first four months of the year

Unicamp economist and researcher Felipe Queiroz explains that the increase in exports is also due to the increase in production, caused by favorable weather conditions in the period. “We had abundant rains at the beginning of the year, which favored part of agribusiness, the rains especially in the Midwest, South and Southeast regions, which greatly favored agricultural production”, he clarified.

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According to an analysis by the Department of Commerce and International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, in addition to the increase in the amount exported, which was 2.3%, the expansion is also due to the price index of products, which rose 1.9%.

Thus, agribusiness represented almost half of Brazil’s total foreign sales in 2023, with a 49% share. In the previous year, the share of agribusiness in the country’s exports was 47.7%. Total Brazilian exports grew by 1.6%, driven by agribusiness, as other sectors fell by 0.8% in the period.

“So, this year, we already have a projection of a record harvest by the IBGE, the data already indicate that, we had an increase both in quantity, and the result came, mainly in the trade balance of the sector”, contextualized economist Felipe Queiroz .

Main products

Exports of the soy complex (grain, bran and oil), chicken and pork, corn, cellulose and ethanol were all-time highs in the four-month period.

Soybeans in grain recorded exports of 14.34 million tons in April, an increase of 25%. The average export price, however, fell 8.3% compared to April last year. The drop in value is due to the prospect of oilseed supply in this harvest, which has the highest level of world production in history, with good prospects for the United States, China, India and a historic record in Brazil. China is Brazil’s main importer, acquiring 70% of the oilseed’s export volume.

Beef, pork and chicken meat should have important gains throughout the year. Despite the monthly reduction in beef exports in April, chicken meat exports rose 3.2% over the same period last year, having totaled US$826 million in April. Pork meat had an increase of 16.4% in the quantity exported and of 12.1% in the average export price, adding up to shipments of US$249.40 million.

Chicken and pork meat produced in Brazil benefit from supply limitations in Asia due to local sanitary problems, mainly African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza.