May 9, 2007

Brazil beef exports reach US$1.4 billion in Q1

Data from the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters (Abiec) show that as of May 7, 2007 Brazil's cattle beef exports posted an increase of 43.34 percent to US$1.4 billion in the first four months of this year with Russia and US as major buyers.

Total volume reached 888,000 tonnes, a growth of 34.93 percent as against January to April 2006.

Russia was the top buyer, purchasing 230,000 tonnes of Brazilian raw beef worth US$304 million and Egypt, in second place, bought 69,000 tonnes for US$118 million.

The United States were the main buyers of industrialised meat with 54,000 tonnes purchased for US$ 103 million while United Kingdom's imports reached 55,000 tonnes for US$ 58 million.

In April, Brazil has exported 212,000 tonnes of cattle beef or 37.35 percent more, generating US$345 million or an increase of 39.41 percent from the same period last year.

Abiec president Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes said in a statement that Brazilian exporters have been selling special cuts and other elaborate products to meet the growing demand. He added the successful run of Brazilian beef in the world market in terms of volume has been sustained since 2003. 

The association also said Brazil is prepping up market activities such as promotional barbecues in the Arab market, which is the next target of Brazilian beef. Abiec is currently holding these events at Amman, Jordan and will hold similar activities in Morocco and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.