DataLiner: imports fall in Brazil and grow in Uruguay in January 2022

According to DataLiner data for the month of January, Brazilian container exports increased by 8% in January compared to January 2021, a month in which exports had already been positive.

In the quarterly comparison, however, there was a 3.22% drop in Brazilian shipments between November and December 2021 and January 2022 compared to November and December 2020 and January 2021, as can be seen in the following chart:

Brazilian exports| Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Beef

In terms of exports, beef was the best-performing commodity. Beef exports to the United States, Egypt, and Russia have increased in recent months, as shown in the chart below:

Brazilian exports| Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Even though the volume of beef exported to China in January was lower compared to the same month in 2021, it points to a recovery in exports to the Asian country, which had been suspended between September and part of December due to two atypical cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), known as the “mad cow” disease.

The end of the embargo only took place months after the scientific confirmation by the OIE that the two cases did not harm the herd, as they were spontaneously generated and not contaminated.

Brazilian container imports fell 9.6% in January 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. However, it is worth noting that January 2021 imports performed better than expected due to an economic recovery following an unstable 2020, which was motivated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a quarterly comparison, the drop in Brazilian imports via containers was even more significant in November and December 2020 and January 2021, and November and December 2021 and January 2022: 11.13 percent, as shown in the graph below.

Brazilian Imports| Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Plate

Unlike Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay registered a considerable increase in imports via containers in January. While in Argentina the growth was 16.5% between January 2022 and January 2021, in Uruguay the increase in shipments was 28.9% over the same period.

In the quarterly comparison (Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022), however, Argentine imports were practically stable, with a growth of only 0.02%.

Following a drop in previous months, the increase in Argentine imports in January may not reflect an actual increase in volumes, but rather the release of held cargo – both due to restrictions imposed by the country’s government and non-payment, as the Argentine Central Bank faces financial reserve problems.

According to experts heard by the DatamarNews team, there was a lot of pressure from importers to release cargoes in transit, which may explain the volume seen in January 2022. Besides, the country has approved measures that facilitate importing raw material items to its industry.

According to the sources consulted for this report, it is still too early to talk about trends for Argentine imports in 2022.

Argentine Imports| Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Uruguay, on the other hand, performed 17.25% higher in the quarterly comparison (Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022), as can be seen in the following chart:

Uruguayan Imports| Nov and Dec 2020 and Jan 2021 and Nov and Dec 2021 and Jan 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Unlike Argentina, Uruguayan imports have grown in recent months, especially semi-manufactured products to supply the local industry.

Please see below the track record of Argentine, Brazilian, and Uruguayan imports and exports between January 2021 and January 2022. The data are from DataLiner:

Argentine, Brazilian and Uruguayan imports | January 2021 to January 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Argentine, Brazilian and Uruguayan exports | January 2021 to January 2022| TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

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