February 14, 2012

Brazil's Minister of Agriculture, Mendes Riberio, expects growth of beef exports to the EU and China this year, despite Russia's ban on Brazilian meat imports.

Among the Arab countries, Libya returned to importing great volumes in January and there are also expectations for sales to Egypt to grow, according to the executive director of the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), Antonio Jorge Camardelli.

"Libya and Egypt are rationalising foreign trade. The quantity that Libya bought in January surprised us and trade with Egypt is more fluid. There are also open markets in which we should advance, as is the case with Morocco," he said.

The president at Ubabef, Francisco Turra, stated that poultry trade should grow this year as against 2011, when per capita consumption in countries like the Emirates and Qatar grew over 14%. According to Brazil-Arab News Agency, Saudi Arabia was the main destination for Brazilian chicken. Alone, the country imported 622,600 tonnes, which corresponds to 16% of Brazilian sales.

Turra believes that there is still space for greater sales to the region. He also said that it is possible to open markets in Africa and other non-Arab Muslim nations.

Ribeiro also stated that Brazil may increase sales through cooperatives. He revealed that the government of Brazil is discussing creation of the Cooperative Secretariat, with ministry status. "With it, cooperatives will have greater strength to add value (to the product)," he pointed out.

In a meeting with Camardelli, Turra and the executive president at the Brazilian Pork Producers and Exporters Association (Abipecs), Pedro de Camargo Neto, Riberio discussed about the Russian embargo to Brazilian beef. He stated that Russian authorities have given signs that they may suspend the embargo, but did not know when this may happen.

Russia imposed the embargo stating that farms in Paraná, Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul do not comply with their sanitary demands. Ribeiro pointed out, however, that the country aims to establish its own market, especially for poultry, with its own production. "We want to recover the share we lost," said the minister.