Container dispute continues affecting agribusiness

The global scenario of shortage of ships and containers for export and the rise in sea freight are leaving a bitter taste of lost opportunity for Brazilian agribusiness. Although the country is breaking sales records abroad, the feeling in the sector is that the numbers could be better. For exporters and port operators interviewed by Valor Econômico, the situation should not improve until next year.

“It’s hard to talk about [logistics] constraints or complain when we’re breaking records. But what we see is that it could, yes, be much better, and that would also mean more foreign exchange for the country”, says Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA (the Brazilian association of animal protein producers), an entity that represents companies like BRF, Seara (JBS), and Aurora.

In July, Brazilian agribusiness exports reached US$ 11.3 billion, 15.8% more than in the same month in 2020 – shipments had never surpassed US$ 10 billion in July. But this growth mainly reflected the increase in the prices of exported products, as volumes fell by 9.9%.

An estimate by CECAFÉ (the council of coffee exporters) points out that between May and July, the segment stopped shipping around 3 million bags, or US$ 445 million worth of coffee (considering average values) due to logistical problems. “In April, the rollover rate [delay] for shipments was 20%. In July, it went to 40%, and now, in August, we are close to 50%”, says the association’s technical director, Eduardo Heron Santos.

Source: Valor Econômico

To read the full original article, visit the link: https://valor.globo.com/agronegocios/noticia/2021/08/26/disputa-por-conteineres-continuara-a-afetar-o-agro.ghtml

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