Brazilian agribusiness exports reached US$ 6.63 billion in the first month of the year, 7.4% above the US$ 6.17 billion in January last year. In the 12-month period, between February 2018 and last January, the result reached US$ 102.14 billion, an increase of 6% compared to US$ 96.32 billion in the immediately previous 12 months. Imports of agricultural products totaled US$ 14.04 billion, with a decrease of 0.5% compared to the previous period. As a result, the balance in the period was US$ 88.10 billion (+7.2%). The main performances by agricultural segments were the soybean complex, with a share of 40.3%; meat, with 14.2%; forestry products, with 14.1%; sugar and alcohol complex, with 7%; and cereals, flours and preparations, with 5%.
According to the Mapa Secretariat of Commerce and International Relations, these products, which represented 79.1% of the total exported by the agro sector between February 2017 and January 2018, now represent 80.8%. The increase in concentration is due to the expansion of sales of the soybean complex and forestry products, especially soybean meal and grain and cellulose.
Exports of the soybean complex increased from US$ 31.79 billion to US$ 41.20 billion (+29.6%), with an increase of 22.1% in the volume sold, in addition to an increase in the average price of products in the sector at a rate of 6. 2%.
Half for Asia
Asia remains the main destination for Brazilian agricultural products. Sales to the continent reached US$ 52.33 billion, 17.8% more compared to the period between February 2017 and January 2018 (US$ 44.43 billion). The region's share increased from 46.1% to 51.2%.
The second main destination block in the last twelve months, the European Union, showed an increase of 5.2% in purchases of Brazilian goods in the sector, reaching US$ 17.80 billion, compared to US$ 16.93 billion in the immediately previous twelve months (-US$ 873.50 million).
When it comes to countries, China remains the main destination, with a figure of US$ 35.96 billion, almost 69% of Brazilian agricultural exports to Asia. In relation to the previous period, there was an increase of 34% in the exported value. To the United States, the second main destination, sales decreased from US$ 6.79 billion to US$ 6.74 billion (-0.6%).
In the month
In January, imports in the sector grew by 0.5%, rising from US$ 1.236 billion in January of the previous year to US$ 1.242 billion. The quantum index rose 1% while the price index fell 0.5%, resulting in an expansion of 0.5% in imports.
In exports, the growth was due to the export quantum index, which rose by 8.9%, while the price index fell by 1.3%. The share of the country's total exports was 35.7%, compared to 36.2% in January 2018, due to the greater growth in exports from other sectors.
