The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) has been actively engaged since the beginning of the year in initiatives aimed at enhancing the reputation of Brazilian nuts on the global stage. One of the primary objectives is to steer Brazil towards directing at least 50% of its nut exports to markets that represent end consumers of the product, such as the United States and the European Union. Currently, approximately half of Brazilian nut exports are channeled towards Bolivia and Peru.
André Muller, the agribusiness manager at ApexBrasil, highlights the significant shift in export destinations over the years. In 1997, the United States and Europe accounted for about 85% of Brazil's nut exports. However, this figure has dwindled to just 30% today, with half of the exports now heading to Bolivia and Peru. Muller notes that a substantial portion of the nuts exported to Bolivia is intended for further exportation rather than domestic consumption.
In the realm of peeled chestnut exports, Brazil ranks as the fourth-largest exporter globally, trailing behind Germany, Peru, and Bolivia. However, when considering the raw product with the shell intact, Brazil takes the lead in exports, with shipments totaling 8.5 thousand tons in 2022, compared to Bolivia's 1.9 thousand tons.
Muller attributes Brazil's diminishing presence in the international market not only to health-related concerns but also to a decline in domestic production. The volume of Brazilian nut production, which stood at 50 thousand tons in the 1970s, has decreased to 38 thousand tons by 2022.
Johann Wolfgang Schneider, the advisor for international markets at the Cooperative of Farmers of Vale do Amanhecer (Coopavam), sheds light on Bolivia's successful efforts in establishing its chestnuts' reputation. He points out Bolivia's cost advantages stemming from higher volume, better organization, and ample working capital to support the production process. Coopavam has been making inroads into significant markets since 2019 and managed to export 80 tons of nuts last year.
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