Isaura Daniel*
isaura.daniel@anba.com.br
São Paulo – Minerva slaughterhouse, a Brazilian slaughterhouse based in the city of Barretos, in the interior of the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo, increased exports to the Arab market by 19% in the first nine months of 2007. Sales of beef to the region rose from US$ 98 million between January and September 2006 to US$ 116.7 million in the same period of 2007. In the Brazilian currency, exports by Minerva to the Arab world grew 8.7%, from 214.8 million reals to 233 million reals.
"We have great participation in this market, our evolution in the region is very large," stated company director Fernando Galletti de Queiroz. Minerva has been investing in the development of sales to the Arabs. The company has an office in Algeria, which supports sales to the Maghreb, and another in Lebanon, responsible for sales to the Gulf and Jordan. Apart from that, one third of the Minerva produce is halal. That is, the beef is prepared following Muslim demands.
The heating up of the Arab market also boosted sales of the slaughterhouse to the Arab market. Sales of beef, according to Queiroz, grew 1.5% over the Gross Domestic Product of the region. The Middle East is living an expansion of funds due to the prices of oil. This increase of consumption in the countries that produce oil should continue in 2008, as well as evolution of Minerva in this market, according to the company president and director.
"Brazil has a positive image of the Arab countries," said Queiroz. The main buyers of beef produced by Minerva in the Arab world are Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria and Saudi Arabia. Of the 831.7 million reais that the slaughterhouse exported from January to September 2007, 10.2% were to Egypt, 9.9% to Lebanon, 4.3% to Algeria and 1.6% to Saudi Arabia. The company also exports to other Arab countries in Africa and in the Gulf, but at lower volumes. In total, the Arabs answer to 28% of exports from Minerva slaughterhouse.
The company expanded its exports in general from January to September 2007 by 20%, from 695.3 million reals to 831.7 million reals. Of the total exported, 79% was beef, 16% live cattle and 5% leather. The regions that most imported Minerva products in the period were the European Union, with 25% of the total and Russia, with 23%. Egypt was the third main buyer. Minerva is one of the leaders in beef processing in Brazil and the third main Brazilian exporter of sector products. The company has a capacity to slaughter 5,000 heads of cattle per year and to process 7,500 animals. Next year the slaughterhouse intends to expand its capacity by 57%.
*Translated by Mark Ament
