Brazilian cattle beef generated US$ 2.52 billion last year, against US$ 1.55 billion in 2003, an increase of 62.35%, according to figures supplied by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec).
The total shipped was 1.21 million tons of the product, against 848,000 from January to December 2003, a growth of 43.78%.
“Expansion to new markets is guaranteeing Brazil the lead for the second year running,” stated Abiec president Pratini de Moraes.
According to Pratini, last year Brazil exported to 143 countries, 40 more countries than in 2003. He pointed out Russia, Egypt, Algeria and Iran as markets that presented significant growth in terms of exports of raw cattle beef in 2004.
Algeria, which started importing from Brazil in the second half of 2003, is currently in 11th place in the ranking of main destinations for Brazilian cattle beef exports. The Arab country purchased US$ 61.43 million last year, a growth of 374.25% with regard to 2003.
Egypt was the 4th largest importer of the product. In total, purchases totalled US$ 162.85 million last year, 74% growth. In terms of quantity shipped, the total was 165,150 tons, an increase of 46.7%.
Another Arab country that was also in the rank of 10 main importers of Brazilian cattle beef was Saudi Arabia, which purchased US$ 72.86 million.
Apart from the Arab countries, the main destinations for country exports of this product were Russia, the Netherlands, Chile and Italy.
For the year of 2005, Moraes believes that the main challenge for Abiec is increasing the added value of exports and investing in marketing to promote Brazilian cattle beef.
“Apart from increasing our marketing, we are going after negotiations with the Mercosur, the European Union and are also going to continue trying to enter the Japanese and US market,” he said.
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency