April 27, 2012

Paraguay's March beef exports fell by 8% on-year, to 15,419 tonnes, contributing to a 22% on-year fall in exports for the first quarter of 2012, which totalled 34,424 tonnes.

The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in September 2011 and again in January 2012 was the main cause of the decline in exports, with the main export market, Chile, banning imports of Paraguayan beef since the first outbreak in September.

However, the possibility of continuous sales in key markets such as Russia and Brazil helped recover exports during March. Exports to Russia (12,645 tonnes) and Brazil (1,690 tonnes) increased 112% and 292% on-year, respectively, and were also well up over the first quarter of 2012. Of the total shipments, frozen exports (13,887 tonnes) increased 45% on-year, while chilled exports (1,532 tonnes) fell 79% over the same period - the result of the ban imposed by Chile.