Melon claims top spot in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Norte export agenda

Fresh melons have reclaimed the top spot on Rio Grande do Norte’s export agenda, supplanting fuel oil’s dominance as the most traded product in the international market since 2022. In February, shipments of the fruit surged, reaching over 19 thousand tonnes, equivalent to approximately $13.8 million. This marked a significant 29.8% increase in the state’s exports compared to the same period in 2023.

Throughout last year, Rio Grande do Norte exported around 157.3 thousand tonnes of fresh melons, generating approximately $117.9 million in revenue. The trend continued into the first two months of 2024, with the total export volume already reaching about $29 million, driven by shipments of over 40 thousand tonnes of the fruit to international markets, particularly to Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The performance of fresh fruit exports is a notable highlight in the February edition of the RN Trade Balance Bulletin, a monthly report prepared by the Strategic Management Unit of Sebrae in Rio Grande do Norte, drawing on data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) of the Ministry of Economy. This bulletin meticulously tracks the state’s foreign trade month by month, offering insights into buying and selling operations in the international market over the past five years.

Increase in Exports

According to the report, February witnessed a surge in exports of fresh melons and watermelons to Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Rounding up the list of the top five items are diesel fuel, with a volume of $9.6 million, other sugar cane products ($5.5 million), fresh watermelons ($4.3 million), and papayas ($1.3 million). While fuel oil dominated previously, it did not feature in the list of exports for the month. The primary export destinations included the United States, Spain, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic.

The following chart uses DataLiner data on melon exports (hs 08071900) from January 2022 to April 2023, the last month with recorded shipments of fruits under this category.

Melon Exports from Natal Port | Jan 2022 – April 2023 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Total exports in February amounted to over $45.6 million, reflecting a substantial 29.8% increase compared to February last year. However, there was a 35.6% decline compared to January, resulting in an accumulated value of $116.5 million for the first two months of this year, up by 4.8% from the same period last year.

Regarding imports, February also saw positive growth, with imported goods totaling $24.6 million, a 41.6% increase compared to February 2023. Key contributors to this growth included other gasoline (excluding aviation), non-calcined petroleum coke, fresh mozzarella cheese, and corrugated paper or cardboard boxes. The main countries of origin for imports were the United States, China, Spain, Argentina, and Spain.

With these results, the state’s trade flow reached $70,223,025 in February, with Rio Grande do Norte’s trade balance closing the month with a surplus of over $21 million.

Source: Tribuna do Norte

Click here to read the original news report: https://tribunadonorte.com.br/economia/melao-lidera-exportacao-em-fevereiro-e-gera-us-138-milhoes-na-balanca-comercial-do-rn/

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