March 30, 2011
 

Brazil exports cattle to Lebanon

Brazil exported 27,170 head of cattle to Lebanon in January and February this year.

In the first two months of this year, Brazil has shipped 27,170 head of cattle to Lebanon. According to the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, exports of Brazilian livestock to the country generated US$21.2 million in revenues during the period, and each unit was sold for an average of US$781.

Revenues have increased by 273% compared with the same period of 2010 and by 352% in terms of head of cattle. In January and February of 2010, sales of livestock to Lebanon generated US$5.6 million in revenues. A total of 6,000 animals were shipped. Shipments totalled 9,800 tonnes in the first two months of the year, as against 3,100 tonnes in the same period of last year.

The secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, explained that the purchase of livestock is meant to generate jobs in the buying country. "Whenever you purchase livestock, slaughtering and distribution are transferred to the buyer," he claimed. In spite of that, Brazil also ships meat to the Arab country.

Compared with the first two months of last year, there was a decline in the average price of cattle shipped from Brazil to Lebanon. In January and February 2010, the price was US$946. The decline was 17%, considering that the average price this year was US$781. Lebanon was the only Arab country to purchase livestock from Brazil.

The increase took place in shipments from the state of Pará, in Northern Brazil. 23,346 head of cattle were exported through the port of Vila do Conde, in the municipality of Barcarena. In the same period of 2010, only 6,000 head of cattle had left the port. From the port of Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 3,824 units were shipped in January and February of this year. In the same period of 2010, the state did not export any cattle.