São Paulo – Brazil exported 56% less beef to Egypt and more to the Saudis last February from a year ago. Egypt figured as the Brazilian product’s fourth largest importer, purchasing 11,827 tonnes in February. As for Saudi Arabia, the fifth largest importer, it purchased 8,425 tonnes of beef from Brazil, up 20.6% year-on-year.
The figures were made public last Tuesday (3) by the Brazilian Slaughterhouse Association (Abrafrigo). Overall, Brazilian exports were down by 6% in February. The country shipped 131,227 tonnes of whole and processed beef. Revenues saw a 9% increase, grossing USD 564.6 million. The good performance, Abrafrigo reported, was driver to the good prices payed for the Brazilian product in the foreign market.
Chile, the second largest market, increased its imports by 9.6% in February, reaching 15,907 tonnes. Russia came in third, importing 13,095 tonnes, up 56.5%. The Chinese remain as the largest buyers of beef from Brazil, accounting for 52.5% of the exports, but decreased imports last month from a year ago.
Year-to-date through February, shipments were up 2% from a year ago. Revenues saw a higher growth at 23%, grossing USD 1.1 billion year-to-date.
Over the first two months of 2019, continental China and the state city of Hong Kong imported 106,641 tonnes of the product. They increased year-on-year to 139,969 tonnes, being 77,317 tonnes in January and 62,382 in February. Year-to-date, China’s imports were up by 83% from a year ago, while Hong Kong’s imports declined by 14%.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
