São Paulo – Brazilian meat exports totalled US$ 3.579 billion from January to July this year, growth of 14.5% over the same period in 2012, when sales had totalled US$ 3.126 billion. In terms of volume, the growth recorded by the sector was 21.14%, with 807,200 tonnes shipped up to July, according to figures disclosed on Tuesday (13) by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec).
The main buyer of Brazilian beef was Hong Kong, which imported the equivalent of US$ 830.3 million and a volume of 209,700 tonnes. Russia, the European Union, Venezuela and Chile completed the list of five main buyers of Brazilian meats this year.
Egypt, the main Arab client in the period, imported US$ 230.2 million and 68,400 tonnes. The list of ten main clients since January also includes the United States, Iran, Israel and Algeria. The Algerians bought US$ 54.2 million, or 12,100 tonnes.
Raw beef was the main item exported by Brazil. A total of US$ 2.8 billion, or 628,800 tonnes were sold, equivalent to 79.5% of the total. Processed beef totalled US$ 350.3 million; meat offal, US$ 295.1 million; sales of guts reached US$ 79.1 million; those of salted meats, US$ 12.2 million.
July was the best month
Still according to figures disclosed by the Abiec, July was the best month of the year since September 2008. In the period, exports totalled 132,400 tonnes of meats, which totalled US$ 577.9 million.
*Translated by Mark Ament
