From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Exports of bovine meat from Brazil grew by 31% in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. From January until June, foreign sales totalled US$ 2.2 billion. Shipments totalled 1.36 million tonnes, an increase of 26.69% compared with the first half of 2006. The data were disclosed today (11) by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec).
Russia remained as the leader in the ranking for main importer countries of raw Brazilian meat in the period. The country purchased 329,000 tonnes of the commodity, at a cost of US$ 428.25 million. Egypt, in turn, is still in the second position, having imported 154,800 tonnes for US$ 191.48 million.
With regard to industrialised Brazilian meat, the United States were the main buyers, with imports of 80,760 tonnes purchased for US$ 147.89 million in the first half of the year. The United Kingdom came in second, habving imported 82,870 tonnes at US$ 87.65 million. The Brazilian commodity is present in 180 different countries.
In the month of June, Brazilian meat exports totalled US$ 349 million, a 0.6% increase over the same month of last year. In total, 208,000 tonnes were shipped, a 0.98% decrease compared with June 2006.
The 15 largest importer countries for Brazilian raw meat include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Lybia. Imports of those four Arab countries totalled US$ 65 million last month.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
