US$ 42 billion, this is the record total value of agribusiness exports in five months of 2020
Brazilian agribusiness exports had a record accumulated from January to May 2020 and closed at US$ 42 billion, the highest value ever recorded for the first five months of the year. The result represents an increase of 7.9% in relation to the same period of 2019, according to data from the Ministry of Economy compiled by the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA).
According to the CNA, there were also records in agribusiness foreign sales in volume from January to May, which totaled 86.8 million tons, 15.3% more than in the same period last year, and in the trade surplus, difference between the exports and imports, which was US$ 36.6 billion, surpassing the previous record observed in the first five months of 2018.
The main products exported from January to May were soybeans (US$ 16.3 billion), fresh beef (US$ 2.8 billion), cellulose (US$ 2.6 billion), beef fresh chicken (US$ 2.6 billion) and soybean meal (US$ 2.3 billion). These five products accounted for 63.4% of the Brazilian agro export basket in the period.
China was the main importer of Brazil, being the destination of 39.3% of shipments of agricultural products. The revenue generated from exports to the Asian country was US$ 16.5 billion in the period. Next came the European Union, where 16.4% of Brazilian foreign sales went, the United States (6%), Turkey (2.1%) and Japan (2%).
Record monthly performance
Also according to the CNA, the month of May was also a record for both agribusiness exports, with revenues of US$ 10.9 billion (up 17.9% compared to May 2019), and for the balance trade, which had a surplus of US$ 10.1 billion. In volume, foreign sales were 24.8 million tons, a volume 34.1% higher than in May last year.
The main highlights in the export basket last month were: soybeans (US$ 5.1 billion), fresh beef (US$ 682.6 million), soybean meal (US$ 648.8 million), sugar from raw cane (US$ 634.8 million) and cellulose (US$ 586.3 million). The five products represented 70.4% of the month’s export basket. China was the destination for 44.9% of foreign sales in May.
Agro.BR
CNA analyzed the performance of sectors such as teas, mate and spices, fruits, dairy products, fish and bee products. These products are at the focus of the Agro.BR project, a partnership with Apex Brasil to support the export of small and medium producers, seek new markets and expand the diversification of the export basket.
Brazilian exports in May of products in this sector registered a record for tea, mate and spices in May in revenue (US$ 31.2 million) and volume (16.6 thousand tons), positive variations 48.4% and 81, 7%, respectively, compared to the same month of 2019. Highlight for black pepper and ginger.
Accumulated from January to May, sales reached US$ 147.9 million, the highest value since 2017, and were up 9.7% compared to the same period in 2019.
Fruit exports in May were 23.4% lower in value and 16% lower in weight in 2020 compared to the month of May of the previous year. In the first five months of the year, the drops in value and volume in shipments were US$ 59 million and 26.2 thousand tons, respectively, which caused sales to reach US$ 324.2 million this year.
In the case of dairy products, the revenue generated by exports in May was 2.6% higher than in 2019, totaling US$ 5.1 million. In the accumulated for 2020, the increase in sales was 14.8% in value and 12.9% in volume, mainly reflecting the result registered in January.
Brazilian fish in May, on the other hand, remained at the same level as 2019 in relation to exports, with total sales totaling US$ 13.1 million. In the aggregate for the first five months of the year, the drop in value was US$ 9.4 million and the total exported was US$ 71 million.
Exports of Brazilian bee products grew 54.5% in May 2020 compared to the same month of 2019. While honey registered an increase of US$ 3.8 million in the month, beeswax fell by US$ 490, 8 thousand. In the first five months, both products registered an increase in sales. Honey reached revenue of US$ 30.5 million thanks to an increase of US$ 7 million compared to the same period of the previous year, while beeswax grew by US$ 115.1 thousand.
Source: www.comexdobrasil.com