Agribusiness exports US$ 4.7 billion
Foreign sales of Brazilian agricultural and livestock products advanced 0.3% in March when compared to the same month in 2008. Soy shipments boomed.
10/04/2009 - 07:00
São Paulo – Agribusiness of Brazil had revenues of US$ 4.7 billion with exports in March, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply. There was growth of 0.3% over the same month last year, in dollars. In reals, exports grew 35.9%, to 11 billion reals.
Soy grain exports boomed. They rose from 1.4 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes. The growth was 88.22%. The soy complex, which also includes chaff and oil, as well as grain, posted growth of 40.9% in foreign sales. Brazil also sold much more sugar in bulk (49.59%), ground coffee (48.88%) and orange juice (29.30%) on the foreign market.
Sugar and alcohol sector exports totalled US$ 477.9 million. They grew 27.8%, having totalled US$ 374 million in March 2008. There was also growth of 32.7% in exports of fruit juice, which reached US$ 198 million.
In the first quarter – from January to March – agribusiness exports totalled US$ 12.59 billion. In this case, there was a reduction of 9.4% over the first quarter of 2008. However, due to the appreciation of the dollar against the real, foreign sales grew 20.5% in the national currency, reaching 29.1 billion reals.
In the last 12 months there has been expansion of 16.5% when compared to the period from April 2007 to March 2008. Foreign sales exceeded US$ 70.5 billion. The trade surplus for the period reached US$ 59.26 billion.
*Translated by Mark Ament, Source: http://www2.anba.com.br/noticia_agronegocios.kmf?cod=8325490
