Brazilian fruit supplies have suffered a reduction of 40% in volume and only 7% in value.

The pandemic has reduced air logistics and the volume exported has decreased. The fruit sector experienced difficulties in delivering abroad but has found alternatives to meet global demand.

In 2020, the reduction in aircraft flows from Europe, America and Asia has directly affected the volumes of Brazilian fruit exported, particularly papaya and mango, according to Alexandre Duarte, Director of Logistics at Abrafrutas.

In terms of figures, exports fell by 40% in volume and only 7% in value, due to the rise of the dollar against the Brazilian real, which minimised losses.

For Brazilian fruit exports, commercial airlines have been widely used for many years. Although a cargo plane can carry up to 90 tonnes of product, commercial aircraft are capable of carrying 15 to 20 tonnes and their daily flows can sustain demand instead of shipping everything at once.

With the decline in the frequency of commercial flights, the sector has begun to face export difficulties. But they have took an advantage of the fact that the airline companies have transformed commercial flights into cargo ships. As the demand for medical supplies increased, the number of commercial flights transformed into cargo ships also increased.

Brazilian professionals estimate that the country has become the hostage of international aviation over the last fifteen years. Previously, national airlines could act in times of crisis, but currently there is only one company, Azul Airlines, with few international destinations.

Last year there was a significant loss of fruit. The fruit destined for export which could not be shipped, were transferred to the domestic market. But due to their higher costs, the price to the final consumer was higher than the products already destined for the domestic market, and these fruits were not consumed.