Brazilian agribusiness exports to the European Union rose 14.8% in value during the first five months of the trade agreement’s provisional application, reaching $12.21 billion. (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian agribusiness exports to the European Union increased 14.8% in value during the first five months of the Mercosur-EU trade agreement’s provisional application, reaching $12.21 billion. The figures come from Agrostat, a data system maintained by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The agreement marked six months of provisional application on Nov. 1, 2026.
The deal took effect on May 1, following more than 25 years of negotiations. From May through September 2026, Brazil shipped 17.74 million metric tons of agricultural and agro-industrial products to the EU’s 27 member countries, an 8.1% increase from the same period in 2025, when shipments totaled 16.42 million metric tons.
Export growth was recorded in both value and volume, alongside an expansion of Brazil’s trade surplus with the EU. Several product categories posted gains, suggesting a broader range of Brazilian exports is making inroads in the European market. Honey and other apiculture products led the increases in value, rising 367%. Oilseed products other than soybeans grew 161%.
Meat exports rose 103.5% in value and 170% in volume, increasing from 101,000 to 272,000 metric tons. Other animal products gained 55.5% in value, while forest products rose 23% and fruit, including nuts, increased 15%. The soybean complex remained Brazil’s largest agribusiness export group to the EU, with its value up 34.2%.
Within that complex, soybean sales increased 49% in value and 35.1% in volume. Soybean meal exports rose 22.5% in value and 10.6% in volume. The continued prominence of soy alongside gains in other categories points to both expansion in a major existing export and growth across additional sectors.
The agreement establishes a free-trade area between Mercosur and the EU, a market of about 450 million consumers. It provides for the gradual removal of import duties on agricultural and industrial goods, a measure that could reduce costs for Brazilian exports and improve companies’ competitiveness. Meat, sugar, ethanol, orange juice and grains are among the agribusiness sectors expected to benefit from fewer barriers to the European market. The agreement’s more predictable trade rules could also encourage foreign investment in Brazil, particularly in infrastructure, industry and technology.
