São Paulo – Beef exports from Brazil could amount to 1.62 million tons by the end of the year, up 10% from 2017, as per forecasts from the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (Abiec). If it proves true, the volume will be an all-time high, in line with an upward trend that saw volume and revenue go up 10% per year in the last two years. Revenues are expected to reach USD 6.541 billion this year, up 7.4% from the last one.
Abiec chairman Antônio Camardelli said 2018 results attest to the fact that Brazilian beef enjoys an international reputation for quality. “The industry is improving continually, and the hike in exports is proof of the quality and competitiveness of our beef, and of the confidence of international markets in our product,” a press release quoted him as saying.
From January to November, sales amounted to 1.49 million tons, up 10.67% from a year ago. Revenues hit USD 5.99 billion, up 8.31%.
The best results came in the second half, especially September, at 178,000 tons shipped, up 31.75%, and USD 700 million in revenues, up 25.86% from September 2017.
Countries
Three Arab countries were among the top ten importers of beef from Brazil through November this year. Egypt placed third, outbuying the entire European Union with volume climbing 20.1% to 166,000 tons and revenue going up 1.32% to USD 485.6 million. Saudi Arabia ranked 7th, volume dropping 4.27% to 38,500 tons and revenue sliding by almost 11% to USD 143.5 million. The UAE was the 9th leading buyer, with volume going up 31.6% to 26,600 tons and revenues climbing over 20% to nearly USD 105 million.
The top 10 buyers in descending order were Hong Kong, China, Egypt, European Union, Chile, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the USA, the UAE and the Philippines. Hong Kong and China take turns as the biggest buyers of Brazilian beef.
Egypt, the EU and Chile were major markets, with both volume and revenue going up year-to-date through November.
Outlook
The outlook is positive for 2019, according to Abiec. Considering 2018 figures, the association expects volume to increase by 10.7% in 2019 to 1.8 million tons, with revenues increasing by 11% to USD 7.26 billion.
Abiec said the factors expected to drive 2019 results are the resumption of sales to Russia – which had bought over 130,000 tons in 2017, spending over USD 452 million in the process and to the USA, and a hike in sales to China.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum