September 26, 2006

Brazil to boost beef production 6 percent this year as demand grows

Brazil would boost production 6 percent this year as demand from developing countries continue to expand, Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes, a former agriculture minister said.

Moraes who also heads the Brazilian beef association, said beef production would rise to as much as 9.2 million tonnes this year, from 8.7 million tonnes last year.

Egypt, the second-largest importer of Brazil's beef after Russia, increased purchases 45 percent in July as its economy underwent rapid expansion. Growth in other emerging economies, which account for 60 percent of Brazil's meat exports, is also generating demand, Moraes said.

Brazil's meat exports this year through July have grown 11 percent, according to the Trade Ministry.