September 7, 2004

 

 

Brazil To Start Exporting Beef To US Soon

 

Brazil should begin exporting fresh beef to the United States between now and mid-2005. Thus new markets for this Brazilian product, especially among Asian countries will be unlocked.

 

According to the President of the National Confederation of Agriculture's Permanent National Forum on Beef Cattle, Antenor Nogueira, the successful negotiations with the United States will help open new markets where American sanitary analyses are used to determine meat imports.

 

This is the case, for example, with Japan, which only buys from countries that export to the United States.

 

The next step, according to Nogueira, will be to overcome the tariff barriers that bar access by Brazilian beef to the so-called "Asian tigers," which are currently the biggest purchasers of meat in the world.

 

Barriers that rule out Brazilian access to these markets still stand," he lamented. This year Brazil is expected to export 1.6 million tons of beef, for which it will earn over US$ 2 billion.

 

Even though it is the world's largest beef exporter, Brazil is still excluded from 60% of the world's consumer market.

 

"We export to 104 countries that represent 40% of the world market. We still don't participate in 60% of the market."

 

He assured that Brazil possesses the chief prerequisites to conquer new markets and triple its participation-quality, punctuality, and international recognition.

 

"We have a natural meat that is practically organic - meat produced in pastures, without antibiotics and hormones, and with greater nutritional safety. This is what the world consumer desires," he pointed out.

 

"Brazil's climate, with well-defined periods of rain and drought, is another advantage enjoyed by the national cattle herd. This is because it keeps various types of diseases, infections, and other epidemics from spreading in our territory," Nogueira explained.

 

Brazil is consolidating its position as the world's largest exporter of meat. Between January and May of this year, meat exports earned US$ 866 million, a 62.5% increase.

 

Antenor Nogueira, president of the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock's (CNA) Permanent Forum on Beef Cattle announced these figures.

 

"The meat consumed domestically in Brazil is of the same quality as the exported product. The grade is very high," Nogueira affirms.

 

Russia alone buys 12% of the beef exported by Brazil. Brazil exports meat to over 100 countries.