MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine agriculture sales to Mercosur grow 23% in 2006

Argentina in the first eleven months of last year exported to its partners in the Mercosur trade bloc 7.9 million tonnes of products of animal and vegetal origin for 1.9 billion dollars, an increase of 23% in volume and of 26% in revenue regarding the 6.4 million tonnes and 1.5 billion dollars of the same period of 2005, the Senasa phytosanitary watchdog reported Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

The main destination of exports in January-November 2006 was Brazil â€" Argentina's largest trading partner â€" which bought 7 million tonnes for 1.5 billion dollars, an increase of 23% in volume and of 33% in revenue as compared to the January-November 2005, when it bought 5.72 million tonnes for 1.23 billion dollars. The main exports to Brazil included wheat (801 million dollars), rice (66 million dollars), pears (57 million dollars), whole milk powder (49.9 million dollars), hake (47.7 million dollars), malt 39 (million dollars), garlic (39 million dollars) and onion (31.5 million dollars). Another main destination for Argentine exports was Venezuela â€" which became a member of the trade bloc last year. Venezuela bought 248.000 tonnes of Argentine products for 190 million dollars, an increase of 56% in volume and of 34% in revenue regarding the January-November 2005 period, when it bought 158.500 tons for 142 million dollars. The main exports to Venezuela included whole power milk (82.8 million dollars), soy oil (38.8 million dollars), wheat (9.3 million dollars), boneless beef (4.6 million dollars) and potato (3.1 million dollars). Meanwhile, Uruguay in January-November 2006 bought 491.000 tonnes of Argentine products for 143 million dollars, an increase of 23% in volume and a decrease of 3% in revenue as compared to the same period of 2005, when it bought 399.400 tonnes for 146.9 million dollars. Among the main products imported by Uruguay were leather (30.9 million dollars), corn (16 million dollars) and sugar (11.3 million dollars). Exports to Paraguay totalled 99.800 tonnes for 65 million dollars, a decrease of 15% in volume and of 2% in revenue as compared to the January-November 2005 period, when Paraguay bought 117.000 tonnes for 66.8 million dollars. The main Argentine exports to Paraguay included tobacco (22.3 million dollars), orange (6.14 million dollars), whole milk powder (4.3 million dollars), pine word (3.9 million dollars) and sugar (2.8 million dollars). MercoPress â€" Guillermo Háskel â€" Buenos Aires