This study aimed to analyze the economic structure of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, to measure the agribusiness sector of the state in the years of 1980 and 1996 and to evaluate the agribusiness share on total GDP formation, based on inter-regional input-output matrices. The principal results obtained were: a) a significant change in the agribusiness structure occurred from 1980 to 1996; b) the share of aggregate I in total agribusiness increased expressively, rising from 12.31% in 1980 to 20.24% in 1996; c) relative stability were observed in the evolution of aggregate III from 1980 to 1996, rising from 36.40% to 36,51%; d) the aggregate II share declined from 51.29% in 1980 to 43.25% in 1996. The study also shows that aggregate II remains the most important segment of the agribusiness in Minas Gerais State. This indicate that state’s economy can be classified as a food economy in a process of industrialization. In relation to its share in GDP, the agribusiness followed the tendency that has been prevalent in Brazil, that is, gradual diminution of its importance in GDP; it decreased of 25% in 1980 to 20% in 1996.