Brazil agribusiness exports total $5.8 billion in January

A survey of Brazil’s agribusiness trade position showed exports reached US$5.8 billion in January, down 9.4% compared to January 2019. The survey was prepared by the Secretariat for Trade and International Relations (SCRI) part of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) and was released on Thursday, February 13th. Agribusiness goods accounted for 40.4% of all Brazilian exports. Imports totaled US$ 1.2 billion, down -1.6% compared to January last year. The trade surplus was therefore US$ 4.6 billion.

According to the agency, prices of agribusiness products exported dropped 7.4%, and that was the main reason for the drop in foreign sales during January. There was also a decrease in the quantity sold abroad, which fell by 2.2% compared to January 2019.

Exports of meat (beef, pork and chicken), sugar and cotton, helped partially offset the drop in soy products – grains, bran and oil (-31%) and in forest products – pulp, paper, wood and its works (-33.8%).

Meat

Meat accounted for 23.2% of the total exported and reached US$ 1.35 billion (30.9%). Beef was the main meat exported, reaching US$ 631.5 million (+ 38.1%). Record figures were registered in January, both in terms of value and of volume (135.3 thousand tons).

Pork exports also performed well, rising 79.9% in value (US$ 163.30 million) reaching 67.7 thousand tons (42%). Chicken totaled US$ 522.0 million, up 17%.

Sugar

Sugar exports rose 55.8%, to US$ 470.25 million, with volumes at 1.6 million tons (50.4%).

This is still much lower than the January sales record, which occurred in 2015, when Brazil exported 2.4 million tons, according to the Secretariat’s note.

Cotton

Record exports of non-carded and combed cotton placed fibers and textile products in fifth position among the main agribusiness export products. Exports rose 144.2%, to US$ 484.80 million with volume at 308.8 thousand tons. This represents a 168.1% increase.

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