In 2023, Brazil experienced a record-breaking surge in commodity exports, led by diverse goods including oil and soybeans, according to the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex).
Strong global demand and peak production levels fueled this success. The country’s trade surplus reached nearly $100 billion, showcasing its economic strength.
December was notable with an iron ore export peak of 39.65 million tons. This represented a 24% rise from the previous year.
The entire year’s performance marked the highest volume in five years. Such robust activity significantly boosted Brazil’s trade balance.
Soybeans stood out as Brazil’s top export. The nation shipped 101.9 million tons, a 29.4% increase.
This move generated $53.2 billion, reflecting a 14.4% rise in revenue. Oil wasn’t far behind.
The country exported 81.8 million tons, aligning with increased pre-salt production. Despite consistent earnings of $42.5 billion, figures remained stable compared to 2022.
Iron ore shipments reached a 10% annual growth, hitting 378.5 million tons. This was the most since 2018, before the Vale dam disaster.
The tragedy had significantly impacted production. Additionally, sugar exports set a new benchmark at 31.4 million tons, a 15% rise from the prior year.
Corn exports confirmed a record of 55.9 million tons, up by 29.4%. Beef and poultry also saw historic highs.
Beef exceeded 2 million tons for the first time, despite a 19.6% dip in earnings.
Poultry reached around 4.8 million tons, an 8.4% increase. Soy meal exports climbed to 23.3 million tons.
December’s iron ore shipments surpassed the previous national best from 2015. Companies, including Vale, likely benefited from higher prices.
Iron ore exports totaled $3.5 billion in December, up nearly 70% from the previous year. The annual total reached $30.5 billion, a 5.5% increase.
The average price per ton for exported iron ore was $88.5 in December, a 36.6% increase from 2022.
Iron ore sales almost matched oil’s contribution to the trade balance, with both around $3.5 billion.
Soybean exports in December neared $2 billion. Despite lower volumes at year-end, Brazil doubled its shipments following a record harvest.
Sugar also had a strong December, reaching the year’s highest volume at 3.85 million tons, a 75% increase. This was the best performance since October 2020.
Green coffee exports fell short compared to previous years. However, Brazil shipped 243.56 thousand tons in December, almost matching the highest level in nearly three years.
This surge in exports reflects Brazil’s growing role in the global market and its capacity to meet rising demands.