May 3, 2007

Brazil can increase its beef exports by twofold

Brazil has the capability to double its beef exports if slaughter rates from the national herd can be increased to 30 percent from its current 22 percent, according to Brazil's National Agriculture Confederation (CNA).

The increase would allow the exportable surplus to soar from the current level of 2.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tonnes.

However, this rise in supply could only be achieved if Brazil can penetrate other markets such as Japan. Brazil, despite its being the biggest beef exporter in the world, can only access 60 percent of the global beef market due to foot-and-mouth-disease constraints.