Sales of beef, live cattle and pulp were relevant during the month. In contrast, dairy products and rice closed the month with negative numbers.
Exports in Uruguay ended April with growth of 27% and closed the first quarter with positive performance. Agricultural products have driven growth so far this year.
In April, exports of goods – including those from free zones – totaled US$ 1,097 million, according to the Uruguay XXI Institute. Sales of beef, live cattle and pulp were relevant during the month. In contrast, dairy products and rice closed the month with negative numbers.
Pulp sales were US$210 million, which marked a year-on-year growth of 21%. The growth was recorded despite the maintenance activities carried out at the UPM plant in Fray Bentos in the second half of April.
The second product in the month was beef with sales of US$ 172 million and an increase of 26%. Measured in volume, sales grew 42%. Prices fell 12%, although they registered a slight rebound compared to the declines seen in recent months.
Soybeans left the effect of the drought behind and began to rebound in 2024. Seed placements grew 64% compared to April of last year and reached US$ 134 million. With this performance, it positioned itself as the third exported product from Uruguay.
Uruguay XXI pointed out that soybean exports had the greatest impact on total exports, despite the difficulties in the harvest that derived from the recent rains.
Fourth place went to beverage concentrate with sales of US$ 63 million and an increase of 38%.
Exports of the quarter
Uruguay XXI reported that in the first four months of the year, exports reached US$3,843 million, with a year-on-year increase of 5%.
Beef was the main product sold abroad with US$662 million, although with minimal difference compared to last year. Then came pulp with sales of US$ 495 million and a positive variation of 20%.
Dairy products were positioned in third place in the export ranking with US$ 234 million, although with a drop of 17%.
The best performance, measured in year-on-year growth, was for wheat. External sales were US$213 million, with an increase of 138% and a 7% share of the total.
Soybeans repeated the good results of April in the quarter. In the first four months of the year, exports were US$ 147 million and year-on-year growth of 68%.
Destinations
Regarding the markets, the report indicated that Brazil continues to maintain first place in 2024. Purchases of Uruguayan products were for US$ 169 million and represented 25% of the total. Vehicle exports in the month were equivalent to 92% of the total and placed the sector in first place among the products placed in that destination.
In the quarter they reached US$ 654 million with a year-on-year growth of 5%.
China continued in second place in April with US$87 million. In the first four months, sales reached US$373 million with a year-on-year drop of 30%. The main incidence was the lower placement of beef, which showed a decline of 33%.
In third place was the United States with US$ 83 million in the month and growth of 49%. In the quarter they reached US$ 280 million with a growth of 22%. Beef was once again positioned as the main exported product with a share of 59%.
Argentina was in fourth place in the first four months with exports of US$ 128 million and a year-on-year drop of 13%.
