The first shipment of 24,400 tons of Brazilian soybean has left for Russia this week, the Brazilian
Agriculture Ministry said Thursday, adding that another ship was being loaded for departure.

Technical barriers imposed by the Russian government on the import of Brazilian products were
removed at a recent meeting attended by representatives from both countries in Berlin in January,
according to the Secretary of Agricultural Defense Ignatius Kroetz.

"Russia has invested in chicken and pork production and needs soybean for feed. As Brazil is a major
supplier, there is a great chance that export will grow substantially," said Kroetz.

The latest survey from the National Supply Company (Conab) indicates Brazil is expected to produce
65 million tons of soybean in 2009/2010 harvest season, about 8 million more than in 2008/2009
season.

Approximately 26 million tons of the total output will be exported to other countries.