This equates to $20.57 billion to Brazil’s economy and was accompanied with agribusiness imports falling by 1.1 per cent.

Meat value led the charge totalling $3.89 billion (+ seven per cent) of which Poultry grew 2.6 per cent reaching $1.81 billion, this despite broiler meat exports declining 7.9 per cent in tonnage weight.

Poultry income was driven by an average retail price increase of 11.3 per cent.

Beef value increased 19.7 per cent, totalling $1.46 billion.

China was the primary buyer pumping US$ 2.76 billion into Brazil’s agri-foods sector. The US came second, increasing by 29/9 per cent in the first quarter.

South Korea contributed the most to external sales with buying value increasing 160.4 per cent more and added $505 million. This was determined by corn sales rising from $2.62 to $397 million.

March

Exports value actually fell in March by 0.3 per cent grossing $ 7.69 billion. The main five exporting sectors were soy, meat, sugar and alcohol, forest products and cereals valued at $ 594 million.
These sectors accounted for 78.7 per cent of March exports - worth $6.05 billion.