MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian record farm export.

Brazilian agriculture exports established a record in 2003 having reached 30,6 billion US dollars thus contributing to the country's overall trade surplus, reported Brazil Ministry of Agriculture Production and Commercialization Office.

The figure represents a 23,3% increase over 2002 when Brazil exported 24,8 billion US dollars of agriculture commodities. Imports also increased but modestly 6,6% reaching 4,8 billion US dollars. This helped obtain a farm produce surplus of 25,8 billion US dollars, 27% higher than in 2002.

In 2003 with the help of agriculture exports, the overall trade surplus of Brazil reached an all time record of 24,8 billion US dollars.

Farm exports represent almost 42% of the country's exports and last year soybean shipments were particularly significant with a 32% increase reaching 8,1 billion US dollars. Improved international prices and new markets also played a leading role in the encouraging performance.

Meat sales, beef, pork, poultry, reached 4,1 billion in 2003, a 31% increase over 2003.

Brazilian farm sales to Mercosur advanced 40%; to the EU 22,4%; Asia 33,3%; and the Middle East 34,3%. The European Union continues to be the main destination of farm exports with 36,4%.

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Roberto Rodrigues anticipated that the 2004 agriculture surplus will reach between 27 and 28 billion US dollars.