São Paulo – Five Arab countries were among the top importers of Brazilian beef in 2010, according to data disclosed by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) this Wednesday.
The 10 leading importers of raw beef include Egypt, in the third position, Saudi Arabia, in seventh, and Libya, in tenth. In the ranking of processed beef buyers, Egypt ranked sixth, Kuwait ranked ninth and Jordan ranked tenth.
Out of the US$ 3.86 billion in Brazilian revenues from raw beef exports last year, Egypt accounted for US$ 410 million, Saudi Arabia for US$ 122 million and Libya for US$ 58 million.
Revenues from Brazilian exports of processed beef reached US$ 498 million, of which Egypt imported the equivalent of US$ 15.9 million, Kuwait the equivalent of US$ 7.2 million and Jordan the equivalent of US$ 4.9 million.
Total shipments of Brazilian beef reached US$ 4.8 billion, including offal, tripe and salt-cured meats, an increase of 16% over 2009. In terms of volume shipped, however, there was a decline of 3%. A total of 1.8 million tonnes were shipped.
The chairman of the Abiec, Antonio Jorge Camardelli, stated, according to a release issued by the organization, that 2010 was a year of drought, and it harmed the fattening of cattle. He is expecting a greater supply of cattle this year.
The executive also stated that there is room for exports to grow in 2010. He claimed that if sales increase by 10%, then revenues will match the record-high revenues recorded in 2008, before the international financial crisis led the market to a slowdown.
Business fairs that the organization aims to attend this year include Gulfood, the leading food industry fair in the Middle East, due March in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
