Record agri exports would be higher if not for container shortages

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazilian agri exports have reached a record US$…

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazilian agri exports have reached a record US$ 50.2 billion in the first five months of 2021, a growth of 21.9% YoY. These numbers would be even higher if it were not for the lack of containers.

“There is a delay in the shipping of containers, and this is worrying,” says the agribusiness manager at Itaú BBA, Guilherme Bellotti. The graph gives a comparison of Brazilian agribusiness exports in the first five months of the year from 2017 onwards.

One of the activities most affected by the problem is fruit production. Exports are on the rise and have already reached US$ 422.3 million between January and May, 28.7% more than in the same months of 2020. But the numbers could be higher if there were no shortage of refrigerated containers that fruit growers have to share with meat producers.