SAO PAULO (April 05 2003) : Brazil's March soyabean exports rose 111percent to 1.31 million tonnes from the same month last year, the TradeMinistry's foreign trade secretariat (Secex) said Friday.

Soyabean exports were up 591 percent compared with February exports, whichis expected since the flow of new crop beans begins to be seen at theports in March a few weeks after harvest starts.

March soyameal exports rose to 682,700 tonnes, up nearly 52 percent fromthe same month last year and up 7 percent compared with February exports.

In March 97,600 tonnes of soyaoil were exported, up 90 percent from thesame month last year, and 62 percent higher compared with February.

In the first three months of 2003, Brazil exported 4.46 million tonnes ofsoyabeans, meal and oil, nearly 34 percent higher compared with 3.33million tonnes exported in the same period last year.

Brazil is the world's No 2 soyabean grower after the United States, andaccounts for 24 percent of global supply. It is in the midst of harvestinga record 50-million-tonne soya crop.-Reuters