Meat exports rose 10.7% in Brazil, in January, compared with the same month of last year, and totaled US$ 868.4 million. Despite the good performance, the segment did not guarantee growth in overall agribusiness exports, which dropped by 1.8% compared with January 2009 and totaled US$ 4 billion.
According to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, with regard to meats, raw meat had the best performance. Foreign sales of the product grew 43.1%, and generated revenues of US$ 318 million, equivalent to 18.4% of total meat exports.
Sales of the so-called sugar and alcohol complex were also good. Sugar exports increased by 34.3%, leading to a 28.3% rise in exports, which totaled to US$ 845.6 million. Coffee was another highlight in the export basket. The product had growth of 13.8% in shipments, with US$ 358.9 million in revenues.
According to the ministry, the drop in overall exports resulted from reduced exports of the soy complex, which consists of grain, chaff and oil. Sales fell by 55.3% volume-wise and by 40.5% in terms of value. This was so because sales took place earlier than usual in 2009.
Despite the overall decline, exports to several countries increased. Two of them were the United Arab Emirates, which purchased 50% more, and Algeria, to which sales grew by 49%. India was the highlight, with an increase of 148.8%.
