Fruit imports by Brazil registered high growth between January and August of this year, reaching up to 88%in the case of oranges, according to the analysis of Comex/Stat System and Cepea.
Although exports remain at good levels, in the first eight months of the year there were advances in international purchases of the product, leaving the sector’s trade balance negative. This same scenario has only been repeated three times since 1997, when the historical series began.
“Due to the weather situation, the rain in Rio Grande do Sulrains in the São Francisco Valley as well, drought in São Paulo, we felt that some fruits impacted production and also quality and, therefore, we began to import more fruits, such as apples, grapes and even oranges. We, the large orange producers, are importing,” comments Cepea researcher Marcela Barbieri.
Brazil is usually noted for its production of fresh fruit, but it also increased purchases of this product in the first eight months of 2024 compared to the same period last year:
- Orange: 88%;
- Trash: 76%;
- Grape: 21%
However, pears, a fruit that Brazil traditionally imports in large quantities, advanced only 3%.
The estimate, with the exception of grapes, is that external purchases of these fruits will continue to grow in the coming months. However, Cepea highlights that, towards the end of the year, the segment’s trade balance should recover.
“This is due to the already positive exports of mango, which is the main fruit exported by Brazil, fresh fruit, we have good exports. We also have good exports of melon and watermelon. This second half of the year has been very good in terms of fruit exports and we believe that it should cover the imports we have had so far. However, it will continue to be a balance with a smaller surplus than in previous years.”
Fruit imports should decrease
The high volume of acquisitions is a complement to national production, damaged by adverse natural phenomena in recent years. However, the Cepea researcher estimates that, in 2025, external purchases are expected to decrease, but warns that rural producers need to adapt to climate change.
“From what we have seen in the crops we monitor, there will be a slight improvement at least next year, but this impact of the climate has been increasingly recurrent and the producer has to be aware of how to correct and overcome these problems. .”
