Brazilian cattle beef exports were record last year, both in terms of revenues and volumes, according to information disclosed today by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec).
Sales generated US$ 3.149 billion in 2005, which represented growth of 22.4% in comparison to 2004. Shipments totaled 2.3 million tons to 150 countries, an increase of 18% in comparison to the 2 million tons in 2004.
Egypt was in second place among the main importers of Brazilian raw cattle beef. The Arab country purchased the equivalent to US$ 252 million. The main destination, however, was Russia, which imported US$ 525 million. Holland, the United Kingdom and Italy were, respectively, in the third, fourth and fifth positions.
The main buyers of industrialized beef were, according to the Abiec, the United States (US$ 205 million), the United Kingdom (US$ 130 million), Venezuela (US$ 47 million) and Italy (US$ 31 million).
The Abiec informed that the exports were record despite the outbreak of foot and mouth disease that took place in the midwestern Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul in 2005.
According to the organization, this took place as meatpacking plants have a "broad range of customers making it possible to shift export to different locations". This means that exports went to other countries.
The association also stated that, in 2006, it is going to participate in fairs in Egypt, Moscow and Paris and will organize workshops in Holland, Algeria, Lebanon, Chile, Italy and the Ukraine.
Anba