Santa Catarina had unprecedented economic growth in January 2023, as a result of foreign trade.

State exports grew 8.7% and totaled US$ 850.2 million in trade compared to the same period in 2016. In imports, US$ 2.4 billion in goods were purchased, an increase of 5.8%. The Fiesc Observatory provided the data studied.

In terms of exports, the value recorded in January 2023 was higher than any of the months in the monthly movement of the calendar year 2022.

There were US$ 156.5 million more in January of this year compared to January of last year. Among all Fiesc records in the period, it is also the monthly movement with the highest volume.

With a total of US$ 132.4 million in purchases in the month, China was the biggest customer. Comparing the value with the same period of 2022, it is 43.1% higher. In addition, there was an increase in pork and poultry exports to countries in the Middle East and East Asia.

The good performance of exports from Santa Catarina demonstrates the strength of our sector's position in the international market. According to Mario Cezar de Aguiar, president of Fiesc, "factors such as favorable international prices, diversity of business partners and growth in the value of our products also contributed to the result".

In nations such as the United States and Russia, which have sizeable domestic markets, gelatine exports have been growing. Saudi Arabia presented growth among the main consumers, mainly of kraft paper.

Among the largest exporting states in the country, Santa Catarina recorded the highest average price per kilogram exported in January this year. According to Vicente Heinen, economist at the Fiesc Observatory, this indicates that the business community in Santa Catarina has been exporting goods at prices higher than those of other important industrial centers, such as São Paulo and Paraná, for example.

Thousands of importers and trading companies were attracted to Santa Catarina, who began to use its ports and airports to conduct business. As a result, our ports are now the most advanced and efficient in Brazil. More than 90% of the items processed in the State can be cleared by the state tax authorities in up to 8 minutes thanks to investments in technology by the State Treasury Department. This results in significant cost savings.

Along with components for the auto industry, the main items purchased in January were complex industrial inputs such as flat rolled iron coatings and refined copper. The State expanded imports of tires, rubber components and accessories, as well as cars, yachts and trucks from Mexico.

Shipments of concentrated milk and water-soluble proteins were the sector's high point. In January, the main international suppliers of products from Santa Catarina were China, the United States, Chile and Argentina.