The Gross Value of Brazilian Agricultural Production (VBP) is expected to end 2018 with R $ 542 billion, a decrease of 2.4% over the result obtained last year (R $ 555.4 billion). Of this total, crops account for R $ 366.2 billion and cattle raising with R $ 175.8 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).
Despite lower revenues, two crops should stand out this year, soybeans, co, VBP estimated at R $ 129.85 billion and cotton with R $ 27.5 billion. To general coordinator of Studies and Analysis of the Secretariat of Agricultural Policy of MAPA, José Garcia Gasques, the two items registered the highest values already obtained in the series studied. Cotton that has been highlighted by the expansion of area and higher prices, this year exceeds the value of coffee production, which has traditionally been higher. “
The data show that the production value of the five main crops (soybean, sugar cane, corn, cotton and coffee) represent 53.9% of the total value of 2018, with 24% referring to soybeans.
Livestock production presents a real reduction of the VBP of 3.8%. All the products of this sector are showing negative performance compared to 2017. Except for the eggs that due to the strong price increase present better result than last year.
The sharpest falls in value are observed in pork, milk and chicken. “In the case of meat, these have also been affected by lower international prices,” explains Gasques.