Brazilian agribusiness exports totaled US $ 100.81 billion in 2020, the second highest value in the historical series, behind only 2018 (US $ 101.17 billion). In relation to 2019, there was growth of 4.1% in the sector’s foreign sales. According to the Department of Trade and International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, the expansion was the result of an increase in the exported quantum (+ 9.9%), since the price index fell 5.3%. Agribusiness was responsible for almost half of Brazil’s total exports in 2020, reaching a record share of 48%. On the other hand, there was a 5.2% drop in imports of agribusiness products, which totaled US $ 13.05 billion. The increase in exports and the fall in imports resulted in a surplus balance of US $ 87.76 billion for the sector. The soy complex (grain, oil and bran) was the main product on the export basket, with US $ 35.24 billion and 101.04 million tons. Grain exports represented 81.1% of the exported value and reached the second largest amount in the historical series, with US $ 28.56 billion and 82.97 million tons. The export was greater in value and quantity of the product only in 2018: US $ 33.05 billion and 83.25 million tons. Meats occupied the second position in the ranking of agribusiness exporting sectors in 2020, with US $ 17.16 billion. Sales of beef accounted for 49.4% of that amount, an increase of 11.1% compared to 2019. Exports of fresh beef registered a record in value (US $ 7.45 billion) and quantity (1.72 million) tonnes).

Chicken meat exports represented 34.9% of the total exported by the meat sector in the 12 months, with US $ 5.99 billion. Foreign sales of pork totaled US $ 2.25 billion, of which 94.1% corresponded to the product in natura. The amount recorded in pork exports in natura was a historic record, both in value (US $ 2.12 billion) and in quantity (901.10 thousand tons). Regarding buyers, China acquired 73.2% of the exported soybeans, which corresponded to US $ 20.91 billion (2.2% higher than 2019). It was also the main destination for fresh beef exported, 54.2% (US $ 4.04 billion). The country contributed to the growth of these sales, since it acquired US $ 1.35 billion more than in 2019 (+ 50.3%). Trade balance in December 2020 In December 2020, agribusiness exports totaled US $ 7.30 billion, a decrease of 3.8% in relation to the same month of the previous year (US $ 7.59 billion). The fall was due to the reduction in the price and quantum index of exported products, which fell by 1.1% and 2.7%, respectively.

Imports of agribusiness products rose from $ 1.21 billion in December 2019 to $ 1.35 billion in December 2020, up 11.5%. The highlights of the month were corn and sugar. Corn shipments were 5 million tons or the equivalent of US $ 945.3 million (+ 33.5%). Three countries purchased more than US $ 100 million of Brazilian corn: Egypt (US $ 164.39 million; + 427.4%); Vietnam (US $ 148.32 million; + 96.8%) and Iran (US $ 119.57 million; + 91.2%). External sales of raw sugar were US $ 740.08 million (+ 119.3%) or 2.6 million tons. China was the largest sugar importer, with US $ 156.84 million (+ 665.3%). Other countries that imported more than US $ 50 million were: Algeria (US $ 98.34 million; + 72%); Malaysia (US $ 69.86 million); Nigeria (US $ 56.17 million; + 15.3%) and the United Arab Emirates (US $ 50.69 million).

Source: www.noticiasagricolas.com.br