SC breaks record in the value of agricultural production and exports in 2022

In 2022, Santa Catarina broke the historic record in the Value of Agricultural Production (VPA) and also in agribusiness export revenue. According to a survey by the Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning (Epagri/Cepa), Santa Catarina's 2022 VPA reached R$61,4 billion. There was a nominal growth of 13,9% compared to the previous year. Agribusiness exports generated US$7,5 billion, 8,5% more than in 2021.  

These and other data are part of the 43rd edition of the Santa Catarina Annual Agriculture Summary, a publication by Epagri/Cepa launched on Monday, May 29th. It is possible to consult detailed data on the performance of vegetable production (garlic, rice, banana, onion, beans, apple, corn, soybeans, tobacco and wheat), livestock production (cattle, chickens, pigs and milk), aquaculture production (fish freshwater, marine molluscs and shrimp) and forestry production (firewood, wood and charcoal).

According to the Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning analyst at Epagri/Cepa and coordinator of the Synthesis, Tabajara Marcondes, in addition to VPA and export numbers, the publication provides data, information and knowledge about the use of rural credit by farmers and cooperatives and, mainly , on the productive and marketing performance of the main agricultural production chains in Santa Catarina. 

Participation of agriculture in total SC exports

Agribusiness accounted for 64,4% of the total value of Santa Catarina's exports in 2022, which generated a value of US$7,5 billion. In 2021, exports had reached US$6,9 billion, a previous record. The main products, in export value, were chicken meat and derivatives (US$ 2,2 billion), pork meat and derivatives (US$ 1,4 billion), wood and wooden works (US$ 1,3 billion ), products from the soybean complex (US$753 million) and paper and cellulose (US$452 million). Together, these products represented 81% of the total value of agribusiness exports.

When only these five categories are taken into account, the one that had the greatest growth in the value of exports was paper and cellulose, with an increase of 57,4% in 2022, compared to the previous year. More than 50% of the total value exported was goods destined for China, the United States, Japan, Chile and the Netherlands.

“Santa Catarina produces. It works and delivers, especially in our field, a production that is coveted by countries around the world. That’s why Santa Catarina exports so much”, says governor Jorginho Mello. 

“Agribusiness is the engine of Santa Catarina’s economy, accounting for 64% of the State’s exports”, assesses Valdir Colatto, Secretary of State for Agriculture. “This means that agriculture is very important for the economy of Santa Catarina and Brazil and needs to be recognized and respected as such”, defines the secretary. 

For the president of Epagri, Dirceu Leite, the publication is extremely important when it comes to short, medium and long-term planning. “It also shows our Company's commitment to the competitiveness of Santa Catarina's agribusiness, in the sense of seeking information and bringing to society the reality of what happens in rural and fishing areas. He recalled that synthesizing this data allows the State to formulate increasingly assertive public policies to grow the rural and sea economy. 

Value of Agricultural Production

The 13,9% increase in Santa Catarina's VPA in 2022, compared to the previous year, meant that the State reached three consecutive years of double-digit growth in the index. In 2021, the value of agricultural production was R$53,9 billion, a nominal growth of 36,5% over the 2020 VPA, which reached R$39,5 billion. The 2020 result was 23,7% higher than that of 2019, when the VPA was R$32,2 billion.

Although diversified in terms of products destined for commercialization, agriculture in Santa Catarina concentrates its production value in a few items. Four of them were responsible for 59,7% of Santa Catarina's VPA in 2022: pigs (with a share of 20,1%), chickens (15,9%), milk (12,9%) and soy (10,8%). 

The VPA calculation takes into account the quantity produced and the average value received by producers. Epagri/Cepa considered the 55 products with the highest production value in Santa Catarina, which cover the areas of animal production (livestock and aquaculture), crop production (grains, other temporary crops, vegetables and permanent crops) and those of forestry production and plant extraction.

The Socioeconomics and Rural Planning analyst at Epagri/Cepa, Luiz Toresan, explains that most of the increase in the 2022 VPA was the result of the increase in prices, which had a positive movement of around 11,7%. The increase in production was approximately 2,45%. 

Reduction in financing contracts

For some years now, Brazil has shown a gradual decline in the number of financing contracts for agricultural production, although the total amount invested has increased. According to data analyzed in the Annual Agriculture Summary, this has also occurred in Santa Catarina. Although from 2021 to 2022 the reduction in the number of contracts was small (around 3 thousand), when the data takes into account a longer period it is possible to see the size of this drop.

In 2013, 214,7 thousand agricultural financing contracts were closed in SC and, in 2022, 127 thousand, which means a reduction of almost 41%. In terms of values ​​applied, indexation by the General Price Index – Internal Availability (IGP-DI) shows that the R$17,6 billion invested in 2022 is 13% lower than the R$20,2 billion in 2013.