April 6, 2007

Colombia restricts cattle sales to Venezuela

Colombia would restrict its cattle exports to Venezuela to prevent domestic shortage and control the hike in home prices due to strong Venezuelan demand for meat and dairy products, said Colombian Treasury Minister Oscar Ivan Zuluaga in a statement to AFP Wednesday.

In particular, no cattle will be allowed to transit through the Guajira, Arauca and Cesar regions on their way to Venezuela.

Colombia has already set an export quota of 20,000 heads of cattle.

Cattle exports from Colombia to Venezuela jumped by 125 percent in 2005-06 to 17,000 tonnes annually.