Brazilian fruit exports reach US$ 1 billion for the first time

Brazil closed 2019 reaching, for the first time, US$ 1 billion in fruit exports. The information is from the Ministry of Agriculture's foreign trade statistics system (AgroStat). According to the National Supply Company (Conab), this situation will continue to expand in 2020, when the sector will focus on China, which is expected to start importing fresh fruit from Brazil, mainly melon.

Conab reported that the volume of fruit exports accumulated in Brazil until December 2019 was 14,74% higher compared to the same period in 2018, and the value in dollars increased by 3,83%. Melon, mango, lemon, lime, grapes and banana were the fruits that gained prominence in terms of growth in export volume. Apple and orange fell.

According to figures released by the Brazilian Association of Fruit and Derivatives Exporters (Abrafrutas), the sector reached a 16% increase in volume and 8,5% in value in fruit exports. More than 980 thousand tons were exported, compared to 848 thousand in 2018, and revenue jumped from US$790 million in 2018 to US$858 million in 2019.

The executive director of Abrafrutas, Eduardo Brandão, said that the increase was already expected, despite the challenges faced, such as phytosanitary restrictions and the reduction of maximum residue limits imposed by the European Union (EU), the main destination for Brazilian fruit exported.

“Despite this, the good weather conditions throughout the year were favorable for this result. In 2020 we believe that the climate will continue to benefit us, combined with the opening of new markets, such as melons in China”, stated Brandão.

Balance

In its January 2020 horticultural bulletin, Conab recorded that in December last year orange prices had a slight increase in some Ceasas, considering a small increase in supply in most wholesale markets, which began to decline in the second fortnight of the year. month. Greater demand and better quality, especially for pear oranges, explain the movement, according to Conab.

Apples, in the company's balance sheet, registered slight price increases (with the exception of Ceasa Minas) and a small decrease in sales in most wholesale warehouses. For Conab, the low supply of gala apples, even with the reduced pace of sales, combined with the sale of larger and more expensive apples, helped to explain the small increase in prices.

The horticultural bulletin also reported that banana prices had risen in all Ceasas along with the drop in supply, especially for bananas, despite demand traditionally decreasing with the end of year festivities. There were good sales of bananas to Mercosur, especially the dwarf ones originating from Santa Catarina, given competitors' problems with logistical impediments arising from economic, political and social conflicts.

Papaya prices fell along with an increase in supply in most wholesale warehouses. This is explained, according to Conab, by the drop in demand at the end of the year combined with the lower quality of the fruits. In general, the availability of papaya, which ripens faster, was greater than that of papaya formosa.

As for watermelon, prices fell, along with the increase in availability of the fruit for the final consumer in relation to November, mainly for watermelons coming from the south of Bahia and the interior of São Paulo, which at this time of year are the main regions supplying the fruit. .

 

With information: AgroStat/Mapa, Conab and Abrafrutas