SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazil’s soybean exports hit a daily average of 802,400 tonnes through the third week of April, a volume that easily topped 603,800 tonnes per day in the same month of 2022, according to federal government data Monday.

As a result, the world’s largest oilseed producer and exporter has already shipped 10.4 million tonnes of grain overseas in this month’s cumulative output. In April last year, the country exported a total of 11.47 million tonnes.

In general, volumes of soybeans shipped in April are high or could reach record highs, with most of the summer crop already harvested and available for shipment. The all-time high was reached in April 2021, when exports totaled 16.1 million tonnes, according to government data.

Another highlight is oil, whose shipments totaled 4.41 million tonnes until the third week of April, up 45% on daily average, against 4.45 million in the same full month of 2022, according to the Secretary for Foreign Trade (Secex).

In the case of wheat, exports this month already exceed the total recorded in April of last year, with 230.95 thousand tons against 147.2 thousand.

On the other hand, foreign sales of fresh beef are on track to end the month in the red, with a daily average of 5.57 thousand tonnes until the third week, compared to 8.28 thousand per day in April 2022.

After the temporary suspension of business with China between February and March, the prices of exported beef accentuated the losses, limiting the interest of slaughterhouses in overseas sales, according to the assessment of Scot Consultoria.

(Report by Nayara Figueiredo)