Brazil's beef exports should reach US$5 billion this year compared with US$4.1 billion in 2009, according to Brazil's beef exporters association (Abiec).

 

"Export growth has been strong in 2010 and continues to show recovery from 2009, but export revenues won't quite reach their 2008 levels this year," said Otavio Cancado, president of Abiec.

 

Brazil's beef exports totalled US$5.3 billion in 2008 and crashed in 2009 as a result of the global economic crisis, according to reports.

 

Cancado said that revenue from Brazil's beef exports grew by 24% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. This is well above the 10% growth in export receipts forecasted at the beginning of 2010, he added.

 

Brazil is the world's No.1 beef exporter.