February 17, 2012

Strong outlook for Brazil's farm exports in China 

Brazil's farming and livestock exports saw greater potential in the Chinese market following recent successful meetings between Brazilian and Chinese officials.

Agriculture Minister Mendes Ribeiro Filho said the Chinese government committed to "accelerate and finalise" procedures to authorise local meat packers to export pork, beef and poultry to China.

The ministry said it expects China to approve 15 hog slaughterhouses by mid 2012.

Chinese officials agreed to hasten their review of documentation from nine Brazilian beef producers and took 47 questionnaires from poultry producers hoping to export to China. Sanitary officials from the Asian country plan to send inspection missions to the Brazilian poultry plants in April.

Brazil also discussed the possibility of exporting tobacco leaves and corn of which it's a major producer, to China.

In 2011, China imported US$16.5 billion in farm goods from Brazil or about 17% of the total exported by Brazil. Soy accounted for the bulk of Brazil's agricultural exports to China at US$10.9 billion, followed by cellulose and sugar.

"In the past two years, an efficient mechanism of cooperation between Brazil and China has been established in sanitary and phytosanitary areas," Mendes Ribeiro said.