Soy accounts for more than half of Goiás’ exports in 2022

Goiás exported US$8,8 billion in the first seven months of 2022, of which US$4,5 billion in soybeans (7,7 billion tons). The total represents 51,3% of everything that was sold by the State outside the country, from January to July this year, and corresponds to an increase of US$ 1,84 billion in relation to what was exported in soybeans in the same period from last year - increase of 69%. Considering just the month of July, US$647 million in soybeans were exported, a number that places Goiás in second place in the national ranking of soybean exports, behind only Mato Grosso. The data is from the Comex Stat tool, updated by the Ministry of Economy.

The amount exported in soybeans is the highest in recent years, compared to the same period in previous years, when from January to July US$ 2,7 billion in soybeans were exported in 2021; US$2,2 billion in 2020; US$1,29 billion in 2019; and US$ 1,84 billion in 2018. Considering the entire soybean complex (grain, oil and bran) the total exported reaches US$ 5,5 billion this year so far.

As analyzed by the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Tiago Mendonça, these numbers show the importance of grain and agribusiness for the economy of the State and the Country. "Soy exports contribute, like no other product we export, to maintain the positive balance of Goiás' trade balance. And if exports reach records, harvest after harvest, it is because our producers have done their homework, investing in production that is increasingly safe and accepted by other countries, both for its quality and for the sustainability of our products", he highlights.

According to the latest survey by the National Supply Company (Conab), released in July, the expectation is that Goiás will produce 16 million tons of soybeans in the 2021/2022 harvest, which represents an increase of 10,2% in relation to previous harvest. The importance of grain for the State's economy can also be assessed by projects that seek financing through the Central-West Constitutional Fund (FCO), in the Rural Modality.

Of the total of 1004 consultation letters approved from January to July this year, 704 were for projects related to soybeans and corn, in 110 municipalities in Goiás. As a result, R$837,6 million in financing was authorized, expected to create 1.120 jobs in the State.

"It is a cycle that brings great benefits to Goiás, because it generates jobs in the countryside and in the city, strengthens the economy of the producing municipalities and helps in the development of several regions of the State", explains secretary Tiago Mendonça. "On the other hand, when this product is included in the export list, in addition to being good for our economy, it also helps in maintaining various production chains around the world, such as animal husbandry and the food industry."

Other products

Other agricultural products also contributed significantly to Goiás’ exports, in the period from January to July this year. They are: fresh, chilled or frozen beef (9,5% of the share); soybean meal and other animal feed, excluding unground cereals (9,2%); vegetable fats and oils (2,9%); poultry meat and its edible offal (2,8%); sugars and molasses (1,6%); leather (1,3%); between others.

On the import side, in the last seven months, the largest share was accounted for by chemical fertilizers, which accounted for 37% of imports in the period. The purchase of these inputs corresponded to a total of US$ 1,38 billion in the period, ahead of other imported products such as medicines and pharmaceutical products (14%) and automotive vehicle parts and accessories (6,1%).