Hello and welcome to the comments on the results of the third quarter ending in November 2024. On slide two, we highlight the categories of operation and the main indicators for the quarter. Our total net revenue for the period stood at BRL 3.1 billion , an increase of approximately 3% over the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA amounted to BRL 196 million , down 21% from third quarter 2023, with a margin of 6.3%. In volumes, we saw a reduction of 7% year-on-year and 9% sequentially, mainly due to lower volumes in grains. We will go into this in more detail in the next slides. Moving on to slide three, as for Brazil's operating highlights, we start with a high turnover segment made up of grains and sugar. We had lower volumes of grains in the period, justified by the reduction in purchases by retailers in the third quarter 2024.
Historically, we often see a reduction in sales when rice prices are lower, and we also see less seasonal sales as we approach the end of the year. In sugar, we achieved higher volumes in the sequential and annual comparison due to exports made in the third quarter of 2024. In retail, we achieved higher domestic sales volumes, but we still face a challenging scenario in the category in terms of profitability. In the high-value segment, year-on-year, we saw a volume growth of 11%, driven by all the products in the segment. Sequentially, we saw a 5% drop in volumes due to lower sales in coffee, partially offset by growth in fish. Moving on to each business line, we continue to show good profitability in the pasta category, and we remain confident in its growth through the launch of Camil Pasta and other growth avenues coming from Santa Amália.
As for coffee, we recorded growth in sales volumes in the category year-on-year with our strategy of growing sales of the União brand. The launch of União's gourmet coffees also marks the expansion of our portfolio, increasing the added value of the category and further strengthening our presence. As for the cookies category, we posted annual growth in volumes and continue with our plan to improve profitability and sales. As for fish, we saw growth in volumes due to the seasonality of the category in the last two quarters of the year, when our customers began to increase their stock levels to prepare for Lent in Brazil. Internationally, despite the drop in volumes, we saw growth in prices in the category, which boosted the segment's results in the period. Also noteworthy in the period was the announcement in November 2024 of our first step towards entering the Paraguayan rice market.
Q2PY S.A. completed the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of Rice Paraguay and indirectly 80% of the capital stock of Villa Oliva Rice. As part of the agreement, Villa Oliva's rural properties will be transferred to Q2PY, while Camil Alimentos will have control of Villa Oliva's industrial assets. The operation aims to align with Camil's strategic plan, which prioritizes the management of operations without ownership of rural properties. We are still in negotiations, and we keep the market informed of the next steps in the transaction. With more challenging dynamics in Brazil in the short term, we understand that we are taking the necessary steps to prepare and bolster our growth for the coming years. We are gradually working on gaining scale, improving customer service, and strengthening our brands. Now I'll hand over to Flávio, who will comment on the financial results for the period.
Flávio, you can go ahead, please.
Hello everyone. Moving on to the financial highlights of the period, as Luciano mentioned, net revenue was BRL 3.1 billion , up approximately 3%. Cost of goods sold grew by 6%, mainly due to the increase in grains in the high turnover segment in Brazil and the high value of fish and coffee. As a result, our gross profit stood at BRL 534 million , with a margin of 17% in the quarter. SG&A by net revenue for the period was flat, with a 9% increase in nominal SG&A in Brazil. We also saw an increase in freight expenses, personnel and consumables, IT expenses, and some non-recurring effects recorded in G&A. These effects totaled BRL 35 million and referred to fines for supplier contract terminations, other contingencies, and lawsuits. International SG&A fell by 4%, mainly due to the reduction in Uruguay and Chile.
In other operating income and expenses, we recorded a positive BRL 16 million in the quarter, BRL 10.5 million of which was monetary restatement on taxes paid as a result of the company's lawsuit. This lawsuit refers to Camil's right to recover the monetary restatement on the taxes paid for the repetition of the amounts of corporate income tax, or IRPJ, social contributions on net sales, in Portuguese, CSLL, social security contributions, PIS and COFINS, that were levied on the Selic rate applied to its tax overpayments and judicial deposits, as well as the recognition of the right to a refund of the amounts unduly paid in recent years. Excluding this revenue and the other non-recurring effects of G&A that we've discussed, EBITDA for the period totaled BRL 196 million , with a margin of 6.3%.
Without adjustments, we reached BRL 171 million in EBITDA for third quarter of 2024, with a margin of 5.5%. Now on slide seven, we show the sequential variations. It's worth noting that the company had a year in which the first half saw high rice prices coupled with retailers' high stockpiling in the period, which makes the sequential comparative basis stronger than the previous three months. Moving on to debt, the company's net debt stood at BRL 4.1 billion, with net debt to EBITDA for the last 12 months at 4.2 times in the quarter. It's important to note that our covenant reading is always annual, with the next one referring to the end of February 2025. We always have a relevant working capital seasonality throughout the quarters, more specifically in rice.
As such, the first quarters of the year usually see greater cash consumption, while the fourth quarter usually sees a release in working capital and consequently an improvement in leverage. With regard to new funding, we would highlight the conclusion in June 2024 of the 14th issue of the debentures backed by CRA. The issue consists of simple debentures in three series, totaling BRL 650 million . CapEx for the quarter totaled BRL 84 million, with investments in maintenance CapEx and in the new Cambaí grain plant located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
In addition, as disclosed in our statement on transactions with related parties, we made an advance payment of BRL 199 million for the new acquisition in Paraguay, according to the details of the transaction already covered by Luciano. In closing, we are working hard to maximize our efficiency and gradually grow in scale and profitability. We are confident that we are on the right track to take the company to the next level. Now we'll be available for Q&A if you have any questions. Thank you all.