Brazil beef exports show increase

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

The figures were presented earlier this week by Otavio Cancado, Executive Director of the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (ABIEC).

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 5% of sales of the product in the period, with expansion of 22% in imported volume and 72% 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 Cançado.

Algeria, which is in the second place among the Arab buyers, was responsible for 4% of Brazilian sales, reduction of 12% in the volume of exports (the country purchased 10,927 tonnes of beef). However, revenues grew 3%, 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%, which is very positive, as revenues are still rising,'' analysed Cançado.

Saudi Arabia purchased 3% of the Brazilian beef exported in the first months of the year, totalling 6,969 tonnes of beef, expansion of 28% over 2009, generating US$16.551 million in revenues, an increase of 53% in comparison with last year.

Sales of industrialised beef presented reduction of 10% in volume and 13% in revenues. According to 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.