The first quarter of 2018 registered growth of 37% in agribusiness exports in the state of Rio Grande do Sul compared to the same period last year. The result means an increase of US $ 713 million in marketed value. According to the Foreign Trade Report of the Agribusiness of Rio Grande do Sul, reported by the Economic Advisor of the Farsul System, Soja (62.5%), Cereals (10.5%), tobacco (102.4%) and forest products , 9) were mainly responsible for the result.
In March alone, growth was 39.5%, reaching the sum of US $ 1.028 billion, 66% of the total marketed by the state. The highlights were rice, which increased by 353% in the month, forest products (215%) and tobacco (104%). In spite of the fall of 4% of the group of meat, pulled by chicken (-2.5%) and swine (-26.4%), bovine had growth of 48.6%. Another product with high sales was soybean, with 42.5%, reaching US $ 424 million.
In comparison with February 2018, March increased by 26% in value and 35% in volume sold. Soybean (42.6%), beef (25.3%), cereals (59.6%) and forest products (22.1%) contributed to the result of US $ 212 million more. China remains the main partner country in Rio Grande do Sul, accounting for 36% of the total sales. In second place comes the United States, with 5.1%, and third with South Korea, with 3.2%.