According to the ministry, the products that boosted the growth the most in November were meats, grain and its concoctions, the soy complex (grain, oil and chaff), tobacco and fruit juice. With regard to beef exports, the total was US$ 1.07 billion, 18.8% over the result for November 2006.
The performance was strongly influenced by the expansion of prices on the foreign market, including beef, chicken and pork. The volume of beef and chicken shipped, however, dropped 2.13% and 2.7%, respectively.
Foreign sales of the soy complex totaled US$ 633.3 million last month, rising 16.1% over the same month in 2006. The increase of prices of the commodity, 52%, was also essential for this performance, as the volume shipped dropped 23.6%.
With regard to destinations, sales to the other countries in the Mercosur (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) grew 35.2% in November, to the European Union 27.4% and to the countries of the Latin-American Integration Association (Aladi), excepting those of the Mercosur, 34.5%.
In the accumulated result for the last 12 moths, always according to the ministry, the shipments generated US$ 57.9 billion, 18.3% more than in the previous period.
Imports of agricultural products totaled US$ 809 million, an increase of 23.8% over November last year. From January to November, foreign purchases reached US$ 7.8 billion, 30.3% more than in the same period in 2006.
The main products imported, according to the ministry, were wheat, paper, natural rubber and malt, which answered to around 40% of the import basket.
Anba