The strong increase in the quantity of soybean meal (90.5%) and soybean oil (65.5%) was the highlight of the agribusiness in February, generating expansion in the value shipped abroad of 100.3% and 54% , 7%, respectively. Other evidence in the month was the 74.4% increase in the value of exported pulp. According to the Secretariat of International Relations of Agribusiness (SRI) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, there was a record in both the amount (35.3%) of the product and the value, considering the historical series since 1997.

Maize also had significant growth in foreign sales, of 157% in the amount exported, which was 1.3 million tons.

Another increase was registered in the amount of beef exported in natura, which grew 24% in relation to February 2017, totaling 98 thousand tons, equivalent to US $ 392 million. Exports of live cattle also grew strongly (US $ 48.79 million with a 1,640% increase), with purchases mainly from Turkey (US $ 41.12 million)

Agribusiness exports were US $ 6.23 billion in February 2018, up 5.2% from US $ 5.93 billion in 2017. The analysis of the quantum index of agribusiness exports reveals (+ 7.7%), since the measurement of the export price index showed a 2.3% fall in prices.

While agribusiness exports grew, imports decreased by 1.4%, dropping from US $ 1.10 billion in February 2017 to US $ 1.08 billion in February 2018. The increase in exports and the concomitant drop in imports resulted in the agribusiness trade balance expansion from US $ 4.83 billion in February last year to US $ 5.15 billion.

In the two months (January-February), the favorable highlights of Brazilian shipments were increases in sales of corn, cotton, beef and cellulose.

Source: Comex do Brasil