Brazil's Beef Exports to ME Soar

BRAZIL - Revenue from Brazilian beef exports to the Middle East grew by 94 per cent betwen January and November compared to the same period of last year.
calendar icon 16 December 2010
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The region was the one to which sales increased the most during the period, followed by North Africa, which also comprises Arab nations, according to the Brazil Arab News Agency and the ArabBrazilian Chamer of Commerce.

North African imports rose by 75 per cent, generating US$ 573.7 million in revenues. The Middle East purchased the equivalent of US$1.19 billion.

“Those are oil producing countries in which purchasing power has increased and revenues have grown. The improved purchasing power leads people to consume more. There has also been population growth (in those regions),” said the chairman of the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), Antonio Jorge Camardelli.

From January to November, Brazil exported a total of US$ 4.4 billion in beef, a figure at 1.59 million tonnes shipped. There was growth of 19 per cent in value, but a two per cent fall in volume.

Abiec has revised its export projection for the entire year down from US$5 million to around US$4.9 billion, according to Mr Camaradelli.

The volume shipped should reach 1.64 million tonnes this year. In 2009, export revenues reached US$ 4.1 billion and shipments totalled 1.924 million tonnes.

The increase in revenues that should be recorded this year will take place despite the shortcomings faced by the segment, such as the appreciated real (Brazilian currency), restriction on sales to the United States and the European Union.

Next year, the forecast is that export revenue should range from US$5.3 billion to US$5.5 billion.

Abiec, together with the federal government, has selected four potential markets to which it will attempt to sell more: China, Angola, Cuba and Morocco. Others, such as Japan and Indonesia, are yet to be opened.

The Moroccans, import 10,800 tonnes of beef per year, but from January to November this year, Brazil supplied just 25 tonnes.

Angola imports 7,200 tonnes of beef from the world each year, of which Brazil had supplied 4,900 tonnes up until last month.

Cuba buys 4,500 tonnes annually on the global markets, of which 1,900 tonnes comes from Braz, and China imports 398,000 tonnes, of which Brazil only supplied 1,500 tonnes between January and November.

Abiec said that Brazil is also seeking other markets as it maintains talks with the United States and the European Union over beef exports.

The US has blocked beef from Brazil after anthelmintic Ivermectina was in some batches in higher than allowed amounts.

Brazil is also attempting to reach an understanding with the EU over the Hilton Quota.

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