Brazil reports record beef exports

14-Jul-2013 - Last updated on 15-Jul-2013 at 09:30 GMT

Brazilian beef exports have hit record levels but pork exports are down

Brazilian beef export revenues reached a record $3bn in the first half of 2013, although pork exports were hit by the import ban imposed by Ukraine.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), beef export values were up 14.6% on 2012 figures, while volumes were up 22.1% to 679 900 tonnes (t). Fresh beef dominated sales, accounting for 524,900t, worth $2.4bn.

Hong Kong was the biggest destination for Brazilian beef, with exports to the region growing by 68.7% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2012. Beef exports to Algeria and Iran also grew considerably, by 60.8% and 98.5% respectively.

However, figures released by the Brazilian Association of Pork Producers and Exporters (ABIPEC), revealed that pork export revenue for the first six months of 2013 was down 8.31% year-on-year to US$630.26m. Volumes for the period totalled 240,515t, a 10.52% decrease on the first half of 2012.

ABIPEC said that the decline was largely down to the temporary ban on Brazilian pork imposed by Ukraine in May. Brazilian pork export volumes to Ukraine fell 97.59% year-on-year in June, driving a 7.49% decrease in total pork export volumes for the month.

However, the organisation added that Ukraine had now lifted the ban and this, combined with the recent opening of the Japanese market to Brazilian pork, should result in export volumes bouncing back in the second half of the year.

“The main driver for the recovery of export performance may be the Japanese market, where we place high expectations in the short, medium and long term,” said ABIPEC president Rui Eduardo Vargas.

Russia and Hong Kong were the biggest destinations for Brazilian pork in the first six months of 2013, accounting for 28.71% and 25.30% repectively.