Brazil is on the way to a new fruit export record. In the third quarter of 2021, the export volume increased 20% compared to the same period last year. Over 757 thousand tonnes of fruits were sent abroad. In the period, invoicing increased 27% — around US$ 652 million were sold to the international market, placing the sector very close to reaching the goal of US$ 1 billion in exports this year. Brazilian producers have been dealing with the lack of containers and the increase in sea freight but, despite that, they celebrate the positive result.
For the president of the Brazilian Association of Fruit Producers Exporters (ABRAFRUTAS), Guilherme Coelho, higher international demand, mainly from European markets, is one of the factors that justifies this good performance. At the same time, the valuation of the US dollar against the Brazilian real makes international contracts much more attractive for producers.
“The wind has been blowing in our favor, the fruit sector has emerged and shown great potential. We are proving that in addition to being great fruit producers, we can also be great exporters,” says Coelho. “Our fruits are the tastiest and have the highest quality. The acknowledgment has come through these numbers. I affirm that the Brazilian fruit industry has the potential to expand further and reach new markets,” adds him.
Trade
Among fruits with the greatest international demand are grapes, which had an increase of 73%, followed by apples, 58%; mangos, 26%; papayas, 21%; lemons, 19%; avocados, 18%; and bananas, 16%. Pineapple, peach, and guava also had a positive impact on the trade balance.
Guava, for example, had an increase in exports of 132%, compared to the same period in 2020. Considered by the international market as an exotic fruit, guava is now appreciated by importers. The fruit sector in Brazil employs the largest number of workers in the country’s agribusiness.
With information from ABRAFRUTAS