Brazilian beef exports will have a hard time fulfilling this year’s target of US$ 3 billion, in consequence of the crisis caused by the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in the country.
This assessment was made by the executive director of the Brazilian Association of Meat Export Industries (Abiec), Antonio Jorge Camardelli.
Camardelli revealed that exporters are forecasting that foreign sales contracted this month will be 30% less than in September. This reduction is expected to intensify in November, attaining "at least" 40%.
The Abiec executive director said that November should be the most critical month for the beef export sector. Nevertheless, he believes that, based on the joint efforts that are being undertaken by the private sector and the government, an export recovery can begin as early as December.
Data from the Ministry of Industry, Development, and Foreign Trade show that exports of fresh beef in September registered revenues of US$ 210 million.
This result was 18% lower than in August of this year but 8.8% higher than in September, 2004. Between January and September of this year, Brazilian beef exports earned a total of US$ 1.9 billion.
ABr