São Paulo – Brazilian beef exports to the Arab countries fetched US$ 246.3 million in Q1, an increase of 2.22% over the same period of last year, according to date from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC).
The total of external sales grossed US$ 1.3 billion to Brazil from January to March, a drop of 17.6% in the same comparison, according to information released this Friday (10th) by the Association of Brazilian Beef Exporters (Abiec).
Within the Arab world, the main markets were Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Libya. Egypt stood in third place among Brazil’s main markets, behind only Hong Kong and the European Union, according to Abiec. The United Arab Emirates is in tenth place. In March, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria show up on the list among the ten largest destinations.
Despite the drop in total exports in Q1, Abiec pointed out that sales increased 7.6% from February to March and fetched US$ 481 million. In a press release, Abiec’s president, Antonio Jorge Camardelli, said that the sector is expecting a gradual recovery in the number of shipments.
“We had the reopening of important markets, such as Iraq and South Africa. Other factors can contribute for exports expansion, such as the return to Brazilian beef purchases by China and Saudi Arabia”, declared Camardelli, according to the association’s statement. A Saudi delegation of health inspectors is currently in Brazil for a visit.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
