São Paulo – Brazilian beef exports in October were the highest so far this year. This Wednesday (11th), the Brazilian Meat Exporting Industries Association (Abiec) reported that 138,700 tons of beef were shipped abroad in October, up 14.7% from September. Revenues reached USD 557.3 million, up 5.36%. Egypt was the fourth leading buyer in October and the third year-to-date. The industry is expecting sales to climb even further, since Saudi Arabia will go back to importing from Brazil.
According to Abiec, beef exports are rebounding in the second half, but year-to-date performance still fails to match that of 2014. It said that from January through October, exports fetched USD 4.8 billion, down 18% from last year. Shipped volume stood at 1.1 million tons, down 11% from the first ten months of 2014.
Abiec president Antônio Jorge Camardelli claimed the industry hopes to see stronger exports in months to come due to the fact that Saudi Arabia announced the lifting of its ban on Brazilian beef last Monday (9th).
The Arab country had stopped buying in November 2012, following the Brazilian government’s announcement that a cow in the state of Paraná that carried the causative agent of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (SB), a.k.a. mad cow disease, had died in 2010 without developing the condition. On that occasion, several countries stopped importing Brazilian beef, but resumed buying afterwards. Saudi Arabia hasn’t imported beef or beef products from Brazil since.
“Their market holds great promise for our beef. Along with Saudi Arabia, we will be able to reach other countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq, and this will have a great effect on increasing our exports as early as December,” Camardelli asserted.
Hong Kong was the top buyer of Brazilian beef in October, at USD 114.3 million and 33,200 tons. China imported 17,200 tons for USD 83.4 million, with the European Union in third at 12,400 tons, for USD 81.4 million.
Egypt ranked fourth in the top importers list in October at USD 62.6 million and 18,500 tons. Year-to-date through October, Egypt ranked third year-to-date, at USD 565.7 million and 165,200 tons.
Hong Kong was also the main buyer year-to-date, followed by the European Union, Egypt, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, China, the United States, Chile and Algeria. Algeria imported USD 17,800 tons for USD 76.5 million from January through October.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
