3 October 2008

2 minute read

South America

The Brazil-Arab News Agency has revealed that Brazilian beef exports generated revenues of US$ 533.2 million in September, a monthly record high. The figure is 52% higher than recorded in September 2007.

“It is a historic record for monthly growth. We have surpassed the month of September last year in tonnage and revenues," said today (02), in the city of São Paulo, the president at the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), Roberto Giannetti da Fonseca. In terms of volume, shipments rose from 191,600 tonnes, in September 2007, to 195,300 tonnes last month.

In the accumulated result for the year so far, beef exports totalled US$ 3.91 billion, a result 22% higher than the one recorded in the first nine months of 2007, which was US$ 3.2 billion. Shipped volume, however, decreased by 16% using the same basis for comparison, down from 1.22 million tonnes to 1.02 million tonnes. “Even though tonnage decreased, good pricing ensured the 22% growth rate,” said Fonseca.

According to the president at Abiec, volume grew in September as a result of the increase in number of Brazilian farms accredited for exporting to the European Union (EU). Besides, the executive underscores that demand from other countries that consume the Brazilian product tends to rise in the last months of the year. "Chile, which once was Brazil's third largest client, should resume imports from Brazil. A technical mission from the country should inspect our slaughterhouses starting in the second half of October," he asserted.

The organisation estimates that Brazilian exports should reach US$ 5.2 billion until the end of 2008 and, quite optimistically, goes on to disclose that it expects to post revenues of US$ 15 billion from beef exports in 2013. “This goal is based on facts. Production may rise if we increase productivity, with no need to expand the herd, and especially if we are able to reduce informal clandestine slaughtering, which currently answers to 30% to 40% of all heads of cattle slaughtered in the country," he stated. “Our growth will be boosted through expanding productivity and volume, maintaining our presence in emerging markets and conquering new importers," he claimed.

In the opinion of Fonseca, the global crisis favours Brazil in this area, because Europe is going to have problems with production and will need to import more. “Should the crisis worsen, then consumption will decrease in Europe and the United States. The crisis is going to affect their production and force them to increase exports, which might open up space for Brazil,” he concluded.

TheCattleSite News Desk