Brazil to remain as key global meat exporter

By 2018, beef production in Latin America is seen to grow 75% as against 2000, as Brazil benefits from greater per capita income and population growth, and, consequently, the consumer market, which are boosting the global demand for meat and other animal products to record levels.

 

According to a study elaborated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia were the regions that registered the highest per capita consumption of cattle products over the last four decades.

 

The study also shows that livestock farming answers to 40% of total global agricultural production and is a source of employment and food safety to almost 1 billion people.

 

Brazil, according to the FAO, already answers to 7% of global production of meats and forecasts point at growth of 50% for the next 10 years. Last year, production of meats (beef, pork and poultry) was 24 million tonnes. Of this total, 5.2 million tonnes were exported and generated revenues of US$24 billion.

 

In the opinion of exporters and cattle farmers, not withstanding the constant growth of domestic consumption, the country should have exportable surplus and, therefore, should significantly expand its participation in the international beef market.

 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), the ratio between Brazilian exports and global trade show that in 2018-19, foreign sales of Brazilian beef should represent 60.6% of global trade. Pork represents 21% of trade, and chicken should represent 89.7% of global trade. These results show that Brazil should maintain its position as the main global exporter of beef and chicken.

 

For these projections to be confirmed, Brazil is doing its homework to consolidate markets and win new ones. This year, for example, meats should have new focuses in trade. The MAPA informs that negotiations for opening the beef market should be turned to Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Colombia.

 

Regarding pork, the MAPA is working on exports to Japan, EU, Croatia and North Korea, as well as trying to expand the quota for export to Russia.

 

The same work should be developed to increase the volume of chicken sold to the Russians, as well as possible entry of the product into the markets of Uruguay, Colombia, Senegal, Pakistan and Malaysia.

 

This year, MAPA is going to intensify delegations to reduce barriers in potential import markets. In March, a delegation is bound for Central America - the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala - for negotiation of pork, poultry and dairy. China should remain among the government's priorities.

 

The delegation to the Asian country is expected to proceed with the attempt at opening the market to meats and dairy. Still next month, the Philippines, North and South Korea and Japan, as well as Egypt, Iran and Lebanon are nations to be worked.