Brazil Beef Exports Grow

BRAZIL - Brazilian exports of raw beef grew 26 per cent in the first two months of 2010, compared to the same period last year, reaching US$ 665.531 million in business.

10 March 2010

2 minute read

South America

According to Brazil-Arab News Agency the figures were presented earlier this week by Otavio Cancado, Executive Director of the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (ABIEC).

Iran was the country that presented the greatest expansion in revenues (216 per cent - US$ 93.094 million) and in quantity (195 per cent - 35,323 tonnes) in purchases of raw beef from Brazil, as against 2009.

However, Russia remains the main importer of beef from the country, with purchases of 61,801 tonnes of the product and revenues of US$ 126.447 million.

Egypt, the main Arab buyer of raw beef, was responsible for five per cnt of sales of the product in the period, with expansion of 22 per cent in imported volume and 72 per cent in revenues generated. Between January and February this year, the country in North Africa bought 11,636 tonnes of meat, generating US$ 24.272 million.

“Egypt has always been an important trade partner for Brazilian beef. There was a reduction due to the entry of Iran [as a buyer], but it is still one of the main trade partners in the area,” said Mr Cançado.

Algeria, which is in the second place among the Arab buyers, was responsible for four per cent of Brazilian sales, reduction of 12 per cent in the volume of exports (the country purchased 10,927 tonnes of beef). However, revenues grew three per cent (reaching US$ 22.252 million). “You reduce the volume, but there is expansion in prices. Thus, the average growth per tonne exported to Algeria was 17 per cent, which is very positive, as revenues are still rising,” analysed Mr Cançado.

Saudi Arabia purchased three per cent of the Brazilian beef exported in the first months of the year, totalling 6,969 tonnes of beef, expansion of 28 per cent over 2009, generating US$ 16.551 million in revenues, growth of 53 per cent in comparison with last year, reports Brazil-Arab News Agency.

Sales of industrialized beef presented reduction of 10 per cent in volume and 13 per cent in revenues. According to Mr Cançado, this is a reflex of the global financial crisis. “The crisis expanded the sale of industrialised beef in 2009. With the return to trade, the purchase of raw beef, a higher quality product, has risen,” he explained.