Brazil managed to diversify more agribusiness exports in 2021 and, consequently, China lost ground. The Asian country, however, is still, by far, the main market for Brazilian products.
Due to high commodity prices, the Chinese spent much more on imports into Brazil in 2021. In terms of volume, however, there is a drop in the main items.
Asia, although spending on imports of Brazilian agricultural products increased by 17.5%, recorded a share of 51.3% in total national foreign sales in 2021, lower than in 2020.
The Chinese maintained, in terms of value, a 30% share in agribusiness. However, they reduced volume purchases in two of the main Brazilian export items: soybeans and meat.
In the case of soybeans, the dispute between Brazil and the United States to export to China was fiercer in 2021.
In the meat sector, the Chinese placed barriers to Brazilian beef protein in September, which affected exports in the last quarter.
Brazilian foreign sales of soybeans to China totaled 60.5 million tons in 2021. The volume was stable compared to 2020, but the Asian country’s share of total Brazilian sales dropped to 70%. Brazil exported 86.5 million tons of the oilseed, 4% more than in 2020.
In the beef sector, the Chinese bought just 15,000 tonnes from October to December last year. In 2020, the volume had been 269 thousand. They stopped spending US$ 1 billion in the period in Brazil.
The Chinese embargo made Brazil collect 52% less from total beef exports in the last quarter compared to the same period in 2020. In volume, the drop was 37%.
The US and Chilean markets were important for Brazil to relocate, in part, the meat that China stopped buying. In addition, Southeast Asia and some European countries increased their purchases of the Brazilian product.
The US moved from 9th position in the list of top beef importers from Brazil in the last quarter of 2020 to 2nd in the same period last year.
Other markets were important for Brazil not only for the purchase of meat but also for the purchase of soy. In North America, countries that grew the most in terms of participation in Brazilian agribusiness, there was a greater presence of Mexicans and Canadians in these sectors.
In Europe, Spain becomes one of the main markets for Brazil. Even France, despite criticism, increased soy imports by 183% in 2021.
In South America, it was Chile that increased meat purchases, as did some Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Thailand. Bangladesh has increased purchases not only of meat but also of sugar, soy, cereals and vegetable oils.
Iran, on the other hand, returned to the Brazilian market, with acquisitions of cereals, soy, meat and sugar. Imports totaled US$ 2 billion, and the country received 2% of food exports made by Brazilian agribusiness.
Brazil is also achieving greater diversification. Foreign sales of beans reached a record 215 thousand tons in 2021, with India having 103 thousand. In reais, exports exceeded R$ 1 billion, which irrigates a sector that is normally at the mercy of the domestic market.
The exports are of varieties not very appreciated by the Brazilian consumer, who prefers carioquinha beans.
The country also reached, for the first time, the mark of US$ 1 billion in fruit exports. The Brazilian product was distributed from the UK and Canada to Bangladesh.
1.2 million tons were sold, worth US$ 1.11 billion in 2021.
This year’s exports start heated up again. The data from this Monday (10) from Secex (Secretariat of Foreign Trade) show that the meat that was dammed up flowed a lot in this first week of the month.
Foreign sales of chicken reached a daily average of 23 thousand tons, up 69% compared to January 2021. Beef exports increased 32%; and pork, 42%, in relation to the same period.
External demand remains strong, and prices are heated. The values ​​of beef and chicken rose 12% and 15%, respectively. Pork fell 11%.
Foreign sales of soybeans and corn at the beginning of the year were also well above those of January 2021, according to Secex.
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