Increase in soybean exports reveals resumption of record foreign sales, indicates Conab

Soybean exports reached 13,95 million tons in June this year, an increase of 3,7% compared to the previous month, when they reached 13,45 million. According to the Logistics Bulletin of the National Supply Company (Conab), released today, this result points to the resumption of record foreign sales.

According to the Bulletin's analysis, the increase in prices reflects the current dynamics of the internal market, with global and local economic factors that directly influence the behavior of prices and supply. Other aspects, such as the appreciation of the dollar, also have a significant impact, as it makes the Brazilian product more competitive in external negotiations, at the same time as it increases costs for producers, especially when planting the next harvest.

The study also points out that the growing demand for soybean oil for industrial and biofuel uses highlights the versatility and importance of this product in the Brazilian and global market. The return of export premiums to 2022 levels suggests a recovery and strengthening of Brazil's positions as one of the main exporters of soy and its derivatives.

In the case of corn, international sales in the same period reached 850 thousand tons, compared to 420 thousand tons observed last month. Corn indices in Brazilian ports registered increases driven by several factors, including the increase in global cereal prices, the increase in export premiums and the appreciation of the dollar. However, domestic prices continue to be weakened, due to factors such as advances in harvests of the first and second harvests, relatively low demand, among others.

In exports through the ports of Arco Norte, in June/2024, 36,3% of soybeans and 49% of the accumulated movement of corn were shipped. Through Santos, 35,7% of soybeans and 26,9% of corn were also transported, while the port of Paranaguá totaled 12,6% of the national amount of oilseeds and a decrease in cereals, from 19,2% to 6,5%. %, in the same period. Through the port of São Francisco do Sul, 6,2% of soybeans and 9,6% of corn were transported.

freight 

In the Southeast Region of the country, the Bulletin highlights that, in Minas Gerais, agricultural products accounted for 38,3% of the total value of the state's foreign sales. For the first time in the historical series, the monthly average of exports was more than US$ 1 billion in the period from January to May/2024. As a result, in the transport companies' assessment, the large volume of soybeans that continues to be stored will cause the sector to continue to thrive throughout the second half of the year, which could even be reinforced by the influx of shipments of corn from the current harvest, whose commercialization in the state and volume exported, in relation to last year, did not exceed 50% of production.

In São Paulo, the freight market was also booming due to the increase in corn sales. Despite the low demand for fertilizers, prices were high in almost all areas surveyed.

In the Central-West, freight originating in the Federal District registered increasing variations in almost all areas surveyed, with emphasis on routes destined for Santos, Guarujá and Osvaldo Cruz, in São Paulo. In Mato Grosso, the harvest of second crop corn, together with the final stretch of soybean shipments to free up space and the situation of intense negotiations, caused a strong impact on logistics in Mato Grosso and high demand for transport, which boosted the rising prices in all state markets.

Freight from Mato Grosso do Sul also became more expensive in June, for the same reasons as the second harvest of corn, the need to open up space in warehouses and the demand for heated soybeans. In Goiás, despite the increase in demand for freight, due to the progress of the corn harvest, companies complain about the low prices of products.

As for the Northeast Region, in the state of Maranhão there was an increase in demand for grain transport services and, consequently, the tendency for road freight prices to rise in the state, with the movement of grains to the port of Itaqui, to the Terminal Rail from Porto Franco and to other states.

In Bahia, where the logistical flow with the transport of grains and fertilizers was intense in June 2024, increases in freight and volume transported were identified in relation to the previous month. In Piauí, the freight market also remains very hot, with a strong increase in demand, which caused a reaction in freight rates on the state's various transport routes. On average, the increase in values ​​was around 4,27%, compared to the previous month.

In the South Region, Paraná, with the exception of the Ponta Grossa square, which maintained the previous price, showed an increase in all other sections, especially from Cascavel (16,34%) and Campo Mourão (10%).

The Conab Logistics Bulletin also provides information on the landing of fertilizers in Brazilian ports and also data on the movement of Conab stocks, carried out by contracted transport companies via electronic auction. The monthly periodical collects data in ten producing states, with analyzes of the logistical aspects of the agricultural sector, the position of exports of major agricultural products in Brazil, analysis of the flow of cargo movement and a survey of the main routes used to transport the harvest.