The Brazilian agribusiness exports reached US$ 3.73 billion in October, an increase of 16.9%, in comparison with October of 2004, when sales totaled US$ 3.30 billion, according to information issued Tuesday, November 8, by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Secretariat of International Relations.

Sectors that presented best results were soy, sugar and alcohol, meat, coffee, and forest. From January to October, exports totaled US$ 36.21 billion, which is 9.6% more than what was registered in the first 10 months of 2004.

During the first nine months of 2005, beef in natura exports rose 34%; poultry in natura, 29%; pork, 65.6%; coffee beans, 58.3%; sugar, 60%; alcohol, 41.5%; and milk, 40.8%. The European Union was the main buyer of Brazilian products (32.5% of total exports), followed by Asia (19.7%), NAFTA (14.9%), Eastern Europe (8.6%), Middle East (7%), and Africa (6.6%).

In September, Brazilian agribusiness external sales totaled US$3.820 billion, with a 0.5% negative variation when compared to the same period in 2004.

ABr