Fruit exports increased by 2% in volume in the first quarter of 2022

Despite the several challenges that Brazilian fruit growers and exporters faced in the first quarter of 2022, exports registered a 2% increase in volume compared to the same period of the previous year. So far, 250,000 tonnes of fresh fruit have been shipped abroad, but there have been no increases in value. The revenue was US$ 196 million, the same figure recorded in the previous year.

See below the track record of Brazilian exports of Lemons, Grapes, Watermelons, Apples, and Melons from Brazil in 2021. The data is from DataLiner.

Exports of Lemon, Grape, Watermelon, Apple, and Melons from Brazil | 2021 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In terms of fruit exports in the first quarter of 2022, the most shipped items were melon, lemon, mango, and watermelon. Despite only a 4% increase in volume, around 76 thousand tonnes of melon were exported to the international market, generating US$ 47.1 million in revenue.

Shipments of lemon increased 20% to almost 37 thousand tonnes. This increase was due to several factors: the foreign market offered more attractive prices than the domestic market. Furthermore, countries such as Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala were left without lemon production, allowing more Brazilian lemons to be exported. The opening of the Chilean market in the first month of the year, with the first shipments of Tahiti limes arriving in February, was another reason for the increase.

Mango was the most exported fruit in 2021, though it saw only a 9% increase in the quarter. The quality of the fruit was directly affected by the heavy rains that hit the São Francisco Valley region, the country’s most important production hub. As a result, there was an 8% drop in value due to low quality.

Grapes were another crop whose yield was influenced by rain. Because there is no fruit in the field, the producers concentrated their sales to the domestic market, resulting in a 59% drop in volume and a 61% drop in value among exports.

Both the volume and the value of exported apples decreased by 52% and 56%, respectively. One factor contributing to the decrease in shipments was the drop in production caused by drought in apple-producing regions. Hence, fruit sizes have shrunk, which harmed exports. In addition, the war between Russia and Ukraine and logistical challenges played a role in this outcome.

Despite the war’s effects on fuel, fertilizer, and other input prices, as well as logistical issues that have harmed exports in general, the sector believes that new markets and actions to promote Brazilian fruits will drive a 2% to 3% increase in fruit exports in the next quarter.

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