Agribusiness exports fall in 2015 and reach $88.2 billion

The balance for agribusiness posted $ 88.2 billion in exports in 2015. The number dropped 8.8% compared to the $ 96.7 billion exported last year. The reduction is due to the drop in prices of major agricultural commodities sold by Brazil, like soybeans and beef.

Despite the decline in the export value, the share of agribusiness products in the Brazilian balance (46.2%) has been the highest recorded by the Agriculture Ministry. In 2014, the rate stood at 43%.

The balance for agribusiness closed the year posting a $75.1 billion surplus, 6.24% lower than the $80.1 billion in 2014. Agribusiness spent $13 billion importing goods abroad, decreasing 21.3% compared to the $16.6 billion spent on foreign purchases in 2014.

"In 2016, we expect to recover the value and volume of exported beef, because we had open market in China, Saudi Arabia, Russia," said Tatiana Palermo, secretary for Agribusiness International Relations. According to her, the strategic agenda expects to expand 2% of the total export value of agricultural products in relation to 2015. The secretary reported that the ministry forecasts some actions for this year, like trips to China and India and negotiations to open markets of Brazilian pork in South Korea.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta