Rio Grande do Sul's agricultural exports fall 1,4% in the 3rd quarter of 2024

Amid a scenario of falling average prices for the main products sold by Rio Grande do Sul, exports from Rio Grande do Sul's agribusiness sector totaled US$4,5 billion in the third quarter of 2024, a drop of 1,4% compared to the same period last year. 

Despite the increase recorded in segments such as tobacco and its products (total of US$ 732,6 million; +1,2%) and forestry products (total of US$ 334,4 million; +25,0%), the reductions in sales of meat (total of US$ 586,3 million; -10,3%), soy complex (total of US$ 2,2 billion; -2,3%) and cereals, flours and preparations (total of US$ 203,7 million; -13,9%) were decisive for the figures for the period.  

The data comes from the RS Agribusiness Indicators bulletin, released today (28/11) by the Department of Economics and Statistics, linked to the Secretariat of Planning, Governance and Management (DEE/SPGG). Prepared by researcher Sérgio Leusin Júnior, the material provides information on exports in the third quarter and the year-to-date figures and formal employment in the field. 

The value exported in the quarter in agribusiness represented 73,1% of the total sold to other countries by the State in the period. In absolute terms, the reduction in the quarter was US$ 65,4 million.  

Third quarter 2024  

The drop in average prices on the international market affected the sales values ​​of some of the main agribusiness products from Rio Grande do Sul. In the meat segment, chicken meat showed an 18,9% reduction in export value (totaling US$ 297,74 million) and in the soybean complex, bran fell by 22,2% (totaling US$ 362,03 million). 

According to the bulletin, the forestry products segment showed growth due to the increase in sales of cellulose (totaling US$ 257,19 million), the segment's main product, with an increase of 43,6% compared to the same period in 2023, benefiting from the increase in average prices (+50,4%). 

Regarding the main export destinations, China (37,6%), European Union (13,5%), United States (4,6%), Iran (3,5%), Vietnam (3,1%), United Arab Emirates (2,4%) and Argentina (2,2%) lead the ranking for the period, accounting for 66,9% of the total sold to other countries by Rio Grande do Sul.  

Accumulated for the year

Between January and September 2024, agribusiness exports from Rio Grande do Sul totaled US$ 11,1 billion, a drop of 8,3% compared to the same period of the previous year, which in absolute numbers represents a drop of US$ 995,7 million.  

While the tobacco (total of US$ 1,9 billion; + 4,2%) and forestry products (US$ 1,1 billion; + 3,9%) segments saw improved performance, meat (total of US$ 1,7 billion; -15,3%), soy complex (total of 4,1 billion; -6,8%), cereals, flours and preparations (US$ 882,9 million; -29,9%) and agricultural machinery (total of US$ 294,2 million; -32,9%) had sales below those of 2023. 

In the cereal segment, the reduction in sales of wheat (-28,2%), corn (-89,9%) and rice (-15,0%) explains the result, while in meat the drop is due to the lower sales of chicken (-17,5%), pork (-10,4%) and turkey (-42,0%). In soybean, the drops in sales of bran (-22,5%) and oil (-46,5%) impacted the final figures.  

In the year to date, China (32,2%), the European Union (13,7%) and the United States (5,5%) lead the list of destinations. Despite maintaining second place in the ranking, the European Union saw an 18,4% reduction in the total purchases from agribusiness in Rio Grande do Sul, a movement explained by the lower acquisition of soybean meal.  

Formal employment   

The third quarter of 2024 showed a negative balance of 3.919 formal jobs in the agribusiness sector in Rio Grande do Sul. Although the negative balance of vacancies in the sector is traditional in the period due to the demobilization of the workforce after the harvest of crops and the reduction of activity in the industries of the segment, the months between July and September had a smaller negative balance of vacancies than that recorded in 2023. Last year, the balance was negative in 8.603 formal vacancies.  

In relation to the three segments that make up agribusiness ("before", "within" and "after" the farm gate), the "before the farm gate" segment (sectors dedicated to the supply of inputs, machinery and equipment) showed a positive balance (290 jobs), as did the "within the farm gate" segment (formed by agricultural activities), with 195 jobs. The "after the farm gate" segment, formed by agro-industrial activities, recorded a negative balance of 4.404 jobs.  

In the first nine months of the year, the balance of jobs created in Rio Grande do Sul's agribusiness was positive at 2.373 positions, with a total of 384.065 active contracts in September. The wholesale trade sector led the creation of jobs in Rio Grande do Sul's agribusiness, with a balance of 1.487 positions, followed by the production of permanent crops, with 1.131 positions in the year's total. The slaughter and meat product manufacturing sector continues to be the largest employer in Rio Grande do Sul's agribusiness, with 66.943 active contracts, followed by the wholesale trade of agricultural and agro-industrial products, with 53.446 contracts.