In the first four months of 2026, São Paulo's agribusiness sector showed strong performance in foreign trade, registering a surplus of US$ 6.45 billion, according to figures from the State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply. This result was driven by exports totaling US$ 8.47 billion, compared to imports of US$ 2.02 billion. During this period, the sector accounted for 39% of the state's total exports, while agribusiness imports represented 7.1% of the state total. “São Paulo's agribusiness continues to demonstrate its strength even in a challenging international scenario. The growth in exports of meat, soybeans, and forestry products shows the competitiveness of our producers, the quality of our production, and São Paulo's ability to continue opening markets and generating a surplus for the Brazilian economy,” highlighted the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, Geraldo Melo Filho. The month of April 2026 registered exports of US$ 2.40 billion. APTA's director, Carlos Nabil, states that this result is 10.4% higher than that observed in the same month of the previous year: "Despite fluctuations in the international market, April showed a recovery in exports from São Paulo's agricultural sector, with emphasis on meat, forestry products, and soybeans."
Main products exported by the agricultural sector of São Paulo.
The sugar and ethanol complex accounted for 21.8% of total agricultural exports from São Paulo, totaling US$1.85 billion. Of this total, sugar represented 94.1% and ethanol 5.9%. The meat sector followed closely with 16.7% of the sector's external sales, totaling US$1.42 billion, with beef accounting for 82.9%. Forestry products represented 13.5% of the exported volume, with US$1.14 billion, comprising 66.3% of cellulose and 27.9% of paper. The soybean complex accounted for 12.8% of total exports, registering US$1.08 billion, with 85.3% referring to soybeans and 9.1% to soybean meal. Juices accounted for 7.9% of the total, totaling US$671.82 million, of which 96.5% refers to orange juice. These five groups together represented 72.9% of São Paulo's agribusiness exports. Coffee came in sixth place, with a 6.6% share of exports, totaling US$556.52 million, 68.4% of which was green coffee and 27.5% soluble coffee. It is worth noting that the variations in value, compared to the same period last year, showed increases in sales for the groups of forest products (+18.7%), meats (+16.8%), soy complex (+9.2%) and decreases in the groups of juices (-39.7%), sugar and ethanol (-14.8%) and coffee (-14.9%). These variations in foreign trade revenues are derived from the combination of fluctuations in both prices and export volumes.
MAIN DESTINATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS FROM SÃO PAULO STATE
China remains the main destination for exports, accounting for 27% of the market, primarily purchasing products from the soybean complex, meat, forestry, and textile fibers. The European Union follows with a 15.3% share, and the United States accounts for 10.3%.
São Paulo's participation in national agriculture
Nationally, São Paulo's agribusiness ranks 2nd in exports, with a 15.5% share, just behind Mato Grosso (20.7%).
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.