July 12, 2007

Chile's Jan-May beef exports gain by 8.4 percent

Chile's beef exports from January to May this year totalled 3.615 tonnes worth US$11.8 million, posting an increase of 8 percent by volume and 8.4 percent in value as against the same period last year, official figures show.

Mexico was the main buyer of Chilean beef, taking at least 34 percent of market share, followed by Cuba, 16 percent; United Kingdom, 15 percent and Japan, 11 percent.

Official data also showed country's beef imports during the period reached US$132.5 million, an increase of 12.7 percent when compared to the January-May 2006 period. Imports totalled 41.537 metric tonnes, rising by 20 percent with Argentina as the biggest supplier with 43.3 percent of the total.