Rio - Recent export records in the agriculture sector and new market niches for meats will be the highlights of the 6th Agribusiness Congress scheduled for August 26 and 27 in Rio de Janeiro. Former minister, Pratini de Morais, president of the meat exporter association (Associação Brasileira da Industria dos Exportadores de Carne) (ABIEC), will address the congress on "How Brazil became the world's biggest meat exporter."

The latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture show that new export records continue to be set. Strong performance in soy, meats, coffee, sugar, alcohol, lumber and cereals resulted in exports totalling US$4.4 billion in June, up over 68%, compared to June 2003. And this year's agriculture sector trade surplus is running at US$3.96 billion, up 78%.

For the first half, farm sector exports totalled US$18.5 billion, up 36% over the same period in 2003. And the first half surplus of US$16.1 billion is up 42.6%. Both results historical highs.

At the moment, the agriculture sector accounts for 47.2% of all Brazilian exports.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Nielmar de Oliveira
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/24/2004