After one of the worst droughts who had to cross the Uruguay, the Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos, He announced that good harvests are expected for this year and that soybean cultivation could quintuple the amount of last year’s harvest, reaching 3 million tons.
“It will be a great harvest, surely with very positive numbers, close to three million tons of soybeans, perhaps a record for corn, with other crops in a splendid situation,” announced the leader of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) during his speech at National Expoactivaevent organized by the Soriano Rural Association (ARS).
Regarding the productive machinery, he assured that they are preparing to be able to generate a difference compared to last year, where 1.5 million grains even had to be imported to be able to arrive with the necessary forage.
The minister referred to the drought suffered last year in productive aspects and was very optimistic about the current year and the following one.
“After 14 months of the worst drought that this country remembers and consequently the greatest number of measures taken by a present central government, this year we will surely have a record corn harvest, we will get closer to the historical maximums of soy, This will boost the economy and activity, it is time to recognize the efforts of all those who kept the productive system standing,” he assured.
Good forecasts for exports
The exports would grow up to 14% this year thanks to the rebound effect in the agricultural sector, that leaves behind the consequences of drought, and the launch of UPM 2, according to a report by Uruguay XXI which anticipates the expected sales level for 2024.
From Uruguay XXI they anticipated that the exports of goods will have a clear recovery in 2024 and the soy will play a crucial role, with a planting area that exceeded 1.3 million hectares, the highest in the last 9 years, going from 770,000 tons to 3.2 million.
However, the good harvest occurs in parallel with prices adjusting downwards, due to a market with high stocks and demand growing below supply.
Added to this is the boost from the third plant of cellulose installed last year in the country, UPM Paso de los Toros. With one year of full operation, an increase of 35% is expected in exports, for a total of 4.7 million tons.
In this way, the cellulose will become the main export product of Uruguay, which becomes one of the main world exporters, only behind Brazil, United States and Canada.
Source: Ambito
