Brasília, November 6, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazilian agrobusiness exports set a new record in October: US$ 3.156 billion, 12% more than in October, 2002. Imports by the sector totalled US$ 436 million in October, 18.4% more than in October, 2002. The surplus amounted to US$ 2.720 billion, 11% more than in October, 2002.

These numbers are from the Secretariat of Production and Commercialization (SPC) of the Ministry of Agriculture. According to SPC technicians, the sector's exports between November, 2002, and October, 2003, also set an historical record for a single 12-month period: US$ 29.594 billion. This figure represents 22% more than the US$ 24.298 in revenues obtained between November, 2001, and October, 2002.

In terms of the general results of Brazilian exports in October, agrobusiness products accounted for 41.7% of the US$ 7.566 billion total. This good performance, according to the SPC, was mainly due to the positive performance of soybean and meat exports.

The value of exports comprising the soybean complex grew 11.7% compared with October, 2002. For their part, meat exports grew 30.4% in October, compared with the same period last year, increasing from US$ 294.8 million to US$ 384.3 million, mostly as a result of higher prices. (DAS)