Brazilian beef exports keep on growing

Brazil’s beef exports increased in value (26%) and volume (20%) in December 2017, compared to the same period a year ago.

Data from the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (ABIEC) have shown a strong year-on-year increase in volume and value, demonstrating international meat demand exceeds concern about the safety of Brazilian meat, following the rotten meat scandal​ and corruption allegations​ in 2017.

Last month, Brazilian beef exports generated US$573m – 26% more than at the same point a year earlier. And volume of over 120,000 tonnes (t) was enough to see it increase by a fifth during the same period.

Hong Kong is king​

Cumulatively, Brazil exported US$6.2bn and 1.3m tonnes (t) of beef during the 12 months.

Hong Kong remained the main market for Brazilian beef in December, importing US$148m and 35t during the month – an increase of more than 50% year-on-year for value and volume sales.

China (US$110m), the European Union (US$68m), Iran (US$59m), and Egypt (US$49m) were the next biggest importers of Brazilian beef. All recorded an increase in like-for-like imports.

Egypt’s imports rose the most, climbing 296% from US$12.5m to US$49.6m, according to ABIEC.

São Paulo was the largest state exporter of Brazilian beef, generating turnover of US$155m, a rise of 16% year-on-year.

One of Brazil’s smaller beef-exporting states, Rondônia, saw its share of beef sales rise the fastest. December exports increased by 62% to US$47m.

Strong growth across the board for Brazilian beef exports come as the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization predicted the world would need to feed nine billion people by 2050. Brazil’s meatpackers view this as a major opportunity to be one of the world’s biggest food producers. Plans are underway at regional and government level for the country to become a leader in sustainable food production too.