Brazilian exports of processed beef amounted to US$ 429.4 million in the first nine months of 2005, 20.7% more than the US$ 355.6 million exported during the same period last year.
These data were released yesterday (10) by the Brazilian Association of Meat Export Industries (Aboec).
The biggest buyer of the product was the United States, which imported US$ 125.5 million between January and September of this year, 12.7% less than during the same period last year.
The United Kingdom is the second largest customer, with US$ 101.3 million (7% more than during the same period last year), followed by Venezuela, which imported US$ 34.2 million, 210% more than in 2004.
Foreign sales of beef, pork, and poultry are expected to reach around US$ 8 billion this year, as estimated by the Secretary of Agricultural Surveillance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, Gabriel Alves Maciel.
If this estimate is borne out, meat will take over first place from the soybean complex in Brazilian agribusiness exports, as indicated by the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture (CNA), when it announced the balance of international sales of foodstuffs, meats, and dairy products from January to July.
During this period agribusiness exports amounted to US$ 24.2 billion, 9.1% more than the US$ 22.2 billion sold during the same period last year. However, unlike soybeans, for which world market prices are lower than in 2004, meat prices improved, and Brazil expanded its exports to around 40 countries.
Between January and July of this year, Brazil exported US$ 4.4 billion worth of meat, 34.5% more than during the first seven months of 2004. Besides the increase in export volume, the average price of meat, US$ 1.527 per ton, was 7.3% better than last year’s price.
On the other hand, the average price of soybeans is down 18.8% this year, from US$ 287.8 to US$ 233.6 per ton. Although the product continues in first place among Brazilian exports, the sales have lost impetus: The US$ 5.4 billion in revenues obtained in the first half of 2005 are 17.2% less than the US$ 6.5 billion registered between January and July of 2004.
ABr