The Brazilian agriculture industry grew 0.4% in the first semester of 2013, a higher pace than the one recorded in the first six months of 2012 (-4.0%), but below that of the general industry, from January to June 2013 (1.9%).  The sectors related to agriculture (+0.8%), the most relevant in the agricultural industry, presented more dynamism than the sectors associated to livestock farming (-0.7%) and the group of insecticides, herbicides and other pesticides for agricultural use (-0.8%). It is also worth mentioning the 7.6% expansion in the sector of wood splitting, in the end of the first semester of 2013.

In a quarterly basis, compared to the same period a year ago, the agriculture industry contracted 6.0%, from January to March 2013, but advanced 5.9%, in the April-July period. Among the groups, the sectors related to agriculture (-8.6%) and to livestock farming (-3.2%) went down in the first quarter, but grew again in the second (8.1% and 1.9%, respectively). The group insecticides, herbicides and other pesticides for agricultural use posted a slight positive change (0.2%), in January-March, but fell 1.7% in the following quarter, whereas the segment of wood splitting had positive results in both quarters, moving from 2.2% to 13.1%.

The subtle positive change in the agricultural output from January to June 2013 is mainly due to the recovery of agriculture and livestock farming in the second quarter of the year, with a highlight to sugarcane derivatives and poultry derivatives, respectively, 38.3% and 14.9%, between April and June 2013.

The complete publication can be accessed at

https://www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/industria/pimpfagro_nova

In agriculture, the biggest increases come from sugarcane derivatives (26.9%) and oranges (22.9%)

In the first semester of the year, the sector of industrial agricultural products became practically stable (0.2%), with positive rates in four of the eight surveyed groups. The main positive contribution came from sugarcane derived products (26.9%), because of the higher production of crystallized sugar (14.1%), demerara sugar (24.8%) and alcohol (41.7%), boosted by a bigger sugarcane harvest. Oranges (22.9%), wheat (5.0%) and corn (2.8%) grew as well, the last two because of bigger harvest.  The decline was in pulp (-1.5%), tobacco (-5.1%), soybean derivatives (-14.3%) and rice (-1.4%).

There was also a growth among industrial products used by agriculture (+4.6%). In highlight there is the advance in the production of manures and fertilizers (1.6%) and manufacture of machinery and equipment (9.5%).

Poultry derivatives (+10.4%) stand out in livestock farming

The industrial products derived from livestock farming grew 0.9% in the semester. The biggest raise came from poultry derivatives (10.4%), influenced mainly by a low base of comparison in the first semester of 2012 (-8.3%). Leather and fur (0.6%) also registered growth, due to an advance in exports. Negative results were observed in bovine, hogs and pigs derivatives (-4.5%), with a fall in the export of hogs and pigs (mainly to Ukraine, because of an embargo on Brazilian hogs and pigs) and in the subsector of milk (-8.0%). The sector of industrial products used by livestock farming registered a drop of 6.1% in the January-July period of 2013, caused by a lower production of animal feed and vitamin supplements (-5.3%), as well as vet products (-10.7%).