Brazilian agribusiness exports close 2022 with a 32% increase

Agribusiness exports totaled US$ 159.09 billion in 2022, 32% above the previous year. The performance, according to the Secretariat of Trade and International Relations (SCRI) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, in a note, is due to higher international prices of agricultural commodities. “The price index of products exported by agribusiness increased by 22.1% compared to 2021 and the volume shipped grew by 8.1%. With these increases, foreign agribusiness sales accounted for 47.6% of total exports by Brazil in 2022”, said the folder.

Foreign sales last year were driven by the soy complex (US$ 60.95 billion, 38.3% of the total); meats (US$ 25.67 billion, 16.1% of the total); forest products (US$ 16.49 billion, 10.4% of the total); cereals, flours and preparations (US$ 14.46 billion, 9.1% of the total) and sugar and alcohol complex (US$ 12.79 billion, 8% of the total). Imports of agribusiness products totaled US$ 17.24 billion, with an increase of 13.8% in average prices (+13.8%). The unloaded volume of products fell by 2.4% compared to 2021.

Considering only the month of December, agribusiness exports grew 15.4% in value compared to Dec/21, to US$ 11.32 billion. The five main exporting sectors were: cereals, flours and preparations (19.3% participation); soy complex (19.2% share); meats (16.7% share); forestry products (10.5% share); and sugar and alcohol complex (10.4% stake).

“The sector with the most exports was cereals, flours and preparations, with US$ 2.19 billion (+117.9%). The main product of this sector was corn”, said the folder. Foreign sales of the grain grew from 3.4 million tons in December/2021 to 6.4 million tons in December/2022 (+88%). China alone was responsible for a third of the increase in corn export volume. “Sales to the Asian country were authorized last November and, in December 2022, reached 1.10 million tons, placing the country as the largest importer of Brazilian corn. Four other countries also imported the cereal: Iran (750, 9 thousand tons; +41.1%); Spain (778.3 thousand tons; +268.9%); Japan (472.9 thousand tons; +551.6%); and South Korea (406.4 thousand tons tons; +15.6%).”