Trends in exports of the south american soybean complex (1990 to 2019)

Abstract

Over the years, the soy complex has grown significantly in international trade due to its important use as a raw material for the processing industry. In this context, the present study proposes to analyze the trends and different export profiles of products of the soy complex from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay in the period from 1990 to 2019. The method employed contemplates the quantitative analysis through the trend model and the log-linear growth, based on secondary data obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Among the main results found, the geometric growth rates were higher for exports of soybeans by Brazil (12.02%), imports of soybeans by Argentina (16.74%) and domestic crushing by Paraguay (8.07%). In the soybean meal, the geometric growth rates highlighted were for production (8.04%) and exports (8.80%) in Paraguay. And finally, in soybean oil, production (8.14%), exports (9.08%) and imports (9.08%) from Paraguay. Paraguay is the country with the lowest grain production, consequently, the lowest export, import and domestic consumption, but with the highest growth rates in the data of grain consumption, bran production and oil production, export and import. Finally, the factors that motivated these export profiles in Argentina were mainly due to the internal processing policy, in Brazil it was the result of government incentives in grain exports and in Paraguay it was based on value added strategies.