Brazilian exports of agribusiness products reached US $ 8.89 billion in April 2018, up 2.7% from the same month of the previous year (+ US $ 231.63 million). With this result, the contribution of agribusiness to total Brazilian exports reached 44.8%. The Agribusiness International Relations Secretariat (SRI) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MPLS) released on Tuesday (15) the figures of the Agribusiness Trade Balance.
The trade balance of agricultural products – the difference between exports and imports – generated a positive balance of US $ 7.59 billion in April 2018 against US $ 7.57 billion recorded in April 2017. The highlight of the export agenda in the month of April was the forest complex, driven by pulp sales, which had a record in April in quantity (1.17 million tons, + 10.4%) and value (US $ 643.80 million, + 40.3 %).
In the soy complex, soybean meal increased by 30.7% to US $ 614.21 million in April 2018. In the quantity, the increase was 16.9%, reaching 1.55 million tons. According to SRI’s analysis, the Argentine drought affected grain production by allowing Brazil to expand its exports of the product, incorporating part of the sales of the neighboring country. Other products that had strong growth in foreign sales were live cattle (+ 224.3%) – with shipments mainly to Turkey, tobacco (+ 77.4%) and orange juice (+ 44.9%).
In relation to the buoyant markets of the domestic products, the main highlights of the month were Portugal (US $ 107.08 million and + 675.3%); Pakistan (US $ 126.08 million and + 97.8%); Vietnam (US $ 142.18 million and + 78.9%); Turkey (US $ 148.29 million and + 69.1%); Germany (US $ 238.73 million and + 48.2%); Italy (US $ 185.35 million and + 47.5%); and Argentina (US $ 153.02 million and + 44.9%). China remains the main destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports in April, at US $ 3.65 billion.
Accumulated of the year
In the first four months of 2018, the behavior of Brazilian exports reflects the profile of the month of April. With a favorable performance for pulp, an increase of almost US $ 1 billion in the period (+ 48.9%), smoke (+ 87.5%), soybean meal (+ 18.9%), live animals %) and orange juice (+ 41.9%). In the first four months, four countries recorded growth of Brazilian acquisitions above 20%: Turkey (US $ 445.26 million + 95.4%); Italy (US $ 760.69 million + 30.2%); Hong Kong (US $ 879.83 million + 29.5%); and Argentina (US $ 513.41 million, 24.1%). China ranks first in the ranking of the main national agribusiness destination in the period, with US $ 9.48 billion (+ 0.6%).