EN 
PT_BR 
By Roberto Samora
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's soybean exports are expected to reach 15.45 million tonnes in March, up more than 4% from the previous week's forecast, leaving the estimate close to a monthly record for the sector set four years ago, according to data from the National Association of Grain Exporters (Anec) released on Tuesday.
The export figure still depends on confirmation of scheduled shipments by the end of the month, Anec said. But if confirmed, it would also be the largest volume shipped in any month of March, with the harvest of a record crop in the country now at a more advanced stage.
The all-time record for any month in soybean exports from Brazil, the world's largest producer and exporter, is April 2021, with 15.7 million tons. While the best March was also recorded that year, with 14.9 million tons.
If the weekly updated forecast is confirmed, Brazil's exports would grow by almost 2 million tons compared to March last year.
The increase would also occur after lower exports from Brazil in the first two months of 2024, following a delay in the soybean harvest.
BRAN
Anec also raised its forecast for soybean meal exports from Brazil to 2.38 million tonnes in March, versus 2 million in the previous forecast, now with an estimated annual increase of almost 600,000 tonnes.
If the volume of soybean meal exports is confirmed, it would also be slightly below the record of 2.46 million tons registered in October last year, according to data from Anec.
With soybean and meal shipments gaining momentum, the total corn exported in March, an estimated 412 thousand tons, will be reduced compared to the first months of the year, but should still exceed the same month last year (140.6 thousand tons).
(By Roberto Samora and Gabriel Araujo; editing by Letícia Fucuchima and Marta Nogueira)
