Brazil – Primal Group

Embrapa Develops Biodegradable Film That Extends Shelf Life of Coconuts

Coconuts have become a very valuable commodity in recent years, with products such as coconut water, oil and milk having gained major popularity in the global food and beverage, healthcare, and beauty industry. In response to this demanding consumer market, the Brazilian Corporation Embrapa Food Agroindustry recently developed an edible, biodegradable film that can be applied to coconuts in order to extend the shelf life of the product up to four times. Further feeling the demand for coconuts, this new technology will open many doors for the Brazilian coconut industry and allow Brazilian producers like Primal to break into the worldwide market.…

US Trade War with China Spells Opportunity for Brazil

The recent trade war initiated by the US with tariffs against several of its major trade partners has led to a reshuffling of trade alliances across the world. One of the major winners of this trade war is Brazil. The South American superpower is now the largest exporter of soybeans to China and the eastern power has been making major infrastructure investments into Brazilian agriculture, marking the development of the trade partnership between the two countries. Brazil’s agriculture industry has been experiencing tremendous growth in recent years and this growth is expected to continue under a new government which has stated its support for the agriculture industry and foreign investment.…

Bolsonaro Wins Historic Brazilian Election – What it Means for the Agricultural Industry

Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro won the national elections on Sunday by securing 55.1% of the ballots cast. The Social Liberal Party candidate campaigned on a conservative platform, promising to fight corruption, strengthen ties with the United States and loosen gun controls. The victory comes during a period mired by corruption scandals in Brazil and the biggest economic recession in the country’s history. In this strange climate, there has been one industry that has carried the economy through recession and is expected to continue growing in the future: agriculture. Despite what some consider far-right views, Bolsonaro has attracted the support of the agricultural sector in Brazil as his helm leaves the country’s buoyant food sector poised for further growth.…

Brazil’s Major Contenders and What it Means for the Future of Agriculture

The upcoming Brazilian election is a significant moment, as an election is for any country. The challenge during election years is always to rise above the political circus and the media noise, and to extrapolate how the outcome of any election affects your interests. In this case, how the potential outcomes of the Brazilian elections will affect the agriculture industry.

Representing everything attractive and challenging about long-term higher returns likely to come from emerging markets, the country with the 8th largest global GDP has experienced significant growth in the agricultural sector. Expected to become the world’s largest foods exporter by 2020, the agriculture and agribusiness sectors have been the biggest contributor to the economic recovery of Brazil, now representing 23.5% of GDP, the highest level in 17 years.

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Brazil Beckons to Investors

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sentenced to 9.5 years in prison for money laundering and corruption. Though Lula da Silva remains one of the most popular presidents in Brazil’s history – he is credited with lifting millions out of poverty – his recent conviction signals another win for the comprehensive investigations into political corruption at the highest level in Brazil. Despite the fallout from “Operation Car Wash”, Michel Temer’s administration has remained focused on implementing the changes necessary for driving growth in Latin America’s largest economy.

In June, President Temer was also accused of corruption, however, he has vehemently denied the charges, claiming that the accusations are politically motivated.…

A Boost in Confidence for the Global Economy

The World Bank has published their latest flagship report on the state of the global economy – Global Economic Prospects, 2017. Here’s what you need to know:

Be Cautiously Optimistic

Increased manufacturing and trade, rising market confidence and stabilizing commodity prices around the world have the World Bank pegging their global economic growth forecasts at 2.7% in 2017. While this will be the fastest rate of growth seen in the last seven years, long-term global economic prospects remain clouded by political uncertainty and renewed financial market turbulence.

Accelerating Global Economic Growth

Source: World Bank (2017)

Think Carefully About the Revival in Global Trade

Healthier industrial activity, investment and commodity prices fueled a revival in global trade growth to 4% in 2017, from a post-crisis low of 2.4% in 2016.…