During the first five months of 2007, foreign sales reached US$ 1.8 billion, a 39.4% increase over the same period last year. In total, 1.1 million tons were shipped form January until May, 33.4% more than in the first five months of 2006.

According to a press release by Abiec, the president of the organization, Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes, ascribed the growth in May to the increased cattle supply, the increased sales to emerging markets, the increased supply of special cuts, which have greater value, and to the increase in the price of shipped offal.

Russia continues to be the main market for the raw commodity. In the case of industrialized meat, the largest buyers are the United States and Great Britain. Egypt remains as the second largest importer of raw Brazilian meat, with US$ 35 million in imports in May, and US$ 153 million in the accumulated result for the year.

"For some time now exporters have been selling special cuts, elaborate products for more demanding markets. The consequence is that we have started winning the price championship, as we have been the leaders in terms of volume since 2003," stated Pratini de Moraes, recently.

One of the main marketing activities developed by the Brazilian beef sector are promotional barbecues in buyer countries. The Arab world, for example, has been a constant target for this program. This year, such events have already been organized in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates and in Rome, Italy, among other places.

Source: Brazzil Magazine