Beef, Chicken, Corn, Coffee, Sugar and Two More Commodities. Brazil Produces Them for Close to 1 Billion People

Brazil has become the global leader in the export of at least seven food commodities, following on a report distributed by BTG Pactual to its clients this week.

According to the bank, Brazil has become the world’s largest exporter of soybeans (56% globally), corn (31%), coffee (27%), sugar (44%), orange juice (76%), beef (24%), and chicken meat (33%). Additionally, it is the second-largest seller of two other commodities: ethanol and cotton.

With over 200 million inhabitants, the ‘breadbasket of the world” currently produces enough food to meet the needs of approximately 900 million people, which accounts for 11% of the global population.

The report highlights a series of figures that illustrate Brazil’s “tropical agriculture miracle.” For instance, grain production has surged from 47 million tons in 1977 to the current 312 million tons.

Agricultural productivity has increased by 58% since the year 2000 — during the same period, the growth rate was 37% in emerging countries and 32% in advanced economies.

BTG Pactual notes that agricultural financing has shifted over time from a profile based on official subsidies to a market-based approach. For the 2023/24 harvest, 67% of financing resources are private, with only 33% originating from the government.

According to the bank’s analysis, only 8% of Brazil’s territory is occupied by crops — a contrast to 14% in Argentina, 18% in the United States and China, 58% in France, and 61% in India.

“Brazilian pastures are still poor in terms of quality and productivity,” the report states, estimating that 40% of the 73 million hectares used for cattle ranching are “moderately or severely degraded.” Therefore, they could be converted into plantations, further expanding the cultivated area.

Mercopress

Tags:

You May Also Like

A motoboy in São Paulo delivering food

Underage Delivery App Workers Way Too Common in Brazil

Cases of children working for food delivery apps in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic ...

Brazil on the Verge of Surpassing Italy to Become World’s 7th Largest Economy

The economy of Brazil will likely be larger than that of Italy next year, ...

Brazil’s Central Bank Frees US$ 11 Billion to Spur Economy

The Central Bank of Brazil (BC) announced Wednesday, August 20, a range of initiatives ...

Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Image by Tomaz Silva/ABr

40-year Study Shows Alarming Extreme Temperatures in Brazil

Released in February 2022, the latest report prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ...

At first glance, the Cerrado looks barren. But the savanna boasts important aquifers and provides major carbon storage. Andressa Zumpano / Action Aid.

Only Now the World Is Starting to Learn How Vital Is Brazil’s Cerrado to Our Planet

On May 6, 2015, the Brazilian government officially recognized a special economic region, one ...

President Michel Temer and former president Lula - Ricardo Stuckert/PT

From Friends to Foes. The Split Between Temer and Lula Is a Mirror of Brazil

In the film Jerry McGuire, Tom Cruise exhorts, “Show me the money.” In Brazil, ...

Brazil Believes Privatizing Federal Assets Is the Only Way Out of the Hole

Brazil’s new government has announced a multibillion dollar privatization plan in an attempt to ...

The Mercosur countries: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay

Mercosur Seems Close to a Breakthrough in the Negotiations with European Union

Brazil’s presence and participation in Mercosur has continued to develop significantly in recent months. ...