Mato Grosso do Sul recorded a drop of 30.4% in the trade surplus in the first two months of this year, compared to the same period last year. The value was US$$ 210 million, the result of US$$ 649.2 million in exports and US$$ 438.2 million in imports.
However, in relation to the main exported products, cellulose remains the leader in the export agenda, with 48.76% of the total exported in terms of value, which amounted to US$$ 326.5 million, and with a decrease of 6.74% in relation to the same period last year. In relation to volume, there was an increase of 18.37%.
Beef products
However, the second product on the agenda was occupied by beef products and other products in the segment, with a share of 18.54%. Thus, with an increase in terms of value of 9.7%, totaling US$$ 120.3 million compared to January and February 2019.
In terms of volume, there was a decrease of 2.49%, suggesting that the increase of 9.7% was mainly due to the increase in product prices. Although compared to the first two months of 2019.
The highlights in growth in the two-month period were iron ore, which advanced 112.8% with US$$ 26.3 million exported, and herbaceous cotton, with US$$ 7.6 million and an increase of 229.9% in sales abroad.
Destinations
In terms of the destination of the exports there was a concentration in external sales to China, representing in Jan-Feb 2020 around 38.5% of the total value of exports.
The countries with the largest increase in participation were: South Korea (291,85%) and Japan (110,83%). The largest drop was recorded for the United States, with a drop of 70,33% in exports compared to the two-month trade balance of 2019. The concentration in the ten largest export destinations went from 67,62% to 71,78% compared to the same period in 2019.
Imports – Regarding imported products, the State continued with an agenda focused on the import of Bolivian gas. However, representing 61.67% of the agenda in 2020, above the values verified in the same period last year at 37.68%. The value traded in the two-month period was US$$270.2 million.