September 20, 2004

 

 

Brazil Jan-Aug Dairy Exports Beat Full-2003 Result

 

Brazil exported more dairy products in the first eight months of the year than in the whole of 2003, according to data released Friday by the National Confederation of Agriculture, or CNA.

 

Exports between January and August totaled $49.5 million, compared with $48.5 million for all of last year.

 

In volume, shipments reached 35,000 tons from January to August, 52.8% more than the 23,000 tons exported in the same period of 2003.

 

The top-selling dairy products so far this year have been milk powder and condensed milk, CNA said.

 

Milk powder exports in August alone stood at $3.9 million, while condensed milk sales reached $1.7 million.

 

The two products combined brought in $36.8 million in the first eight months of 2004, compared with $35.8 million for the whole of 2003.

 

Brazil has diversified the markets to which it sells dairy products.

 

Whole milk, for instance, were exported mainly to Israel, Venezuela, Algeria, Senegal as well as Trinidad and Tobago in August.

 

Condensed milk, meanwhile, was chiefly exported to Angola. But other 19 countries buy the Brazilian product, such as the U.S., Bolivia, Tunisia, Chile and Lebanon.

 

Overall dairy product exports in August alone totaled $7.6 million, a 58% rise from the same month of 2003. Sales in volume stood at 5,300 tons last month, 18.9% more than the 4,500 tons shipped in August last year.

 

Imports between January and August amounted to 36,500 tons, 35.6% less than the 56,400 tons for the same period of 2003. In financial terms, imports fell 26.1% in the first eight months of the year, to $54.3 million.

 

Therefore, CNA forecasts that the January-to-August trade deficit of $4.9 million should become a surplus by the end of the year.

 

The local dairy industry registered deficits of $49.5 million in the first eight months of last year and $63.8 million in all of 2003.