Transformações recentes do agronegócio mineiro: uma análise de indicadores de comércio exterior no período de 1996 a 2006

The present development in the Brazilian Agro-business, which regards this country as one the most competitive nations in terms of agro industrial commodities, had its best expansion moments from 2006 on especially with the fall of Real currency and due to an increasingly demand in the international market. The aim of this article is to analyze the specialization and competitiveness of the agro-industry in the state of Minas Gerais and its contribution to the increase in the Brazilian exportations. To that end, indexes based on commercial flux will be used so that we are able to identify the trends in the international marked in terms of specializations. The analyses of the international business structure and the profitable competitiveness have shown the diversity of Minas Gerais agro-business, started off in 1999, with the increase in the so-called ‘strong spots’ of economy. Not only did Minas Gerais State manage to keep the competitiveness in traditional sectors such as coffee and timber industry but it also diversified its production to other potential sectors of its economy. However, the competitiveness index has come as ‘neutral’ due to low competition, a fact that has been gradually overcome. Should such tendency maintain, without a shadow of doubt, the agro-business will soon be considered as a strong spot in the Mineira economy.