March 24, 2023
Minerva gets back to beef production as China ends embargo on Brazil's beef exports
Brazilian meatpacking giant Minerva has resumed its beef slaughtering and production operations after Chinese authorities lifted an embargo on Brazilian beef exports.
The temporary ban was imposed a month ago after a case of mad cow disease was found in the northern Brazilian state of Pará.
Brazil exports more than 60% of its meat production to China, and Minerva's exposure to this market is also significant. Seven of its production units (three in Brazil, three in Uruguay and one in Argentina) contributed to a combined capacity of approximately 10,000 cattle per day.
Currently, China is Brazil's largest trading partner and has strict protocols regarding the quality of imported food.
The protocol provides for the immediate and voluntary suspension of Brazilian beef exports in the event of a confirmed case of the disease, even in atypical cases — when the disease occurs spontaneously in an animal and there is no risk of spreading to herds or humans.
The case identified in February in Pará was atypical.
- The Brazilian Report