The outbreak of hoof and mouth disease will cause Brazilian beef exports to drop this year, but these losses should be compensated by growth in other areas, and, in principle, the forecast for US$ 117 billion in overall exports this year continues unaltered.
This was the projection made by the executive secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Development, and Foreign Trade, Ivan Ramalho, who reminded his listeners at the American Chamber of Commerce, yesterday, October 31, that Brazil is one of the world’s largest exporters of meat, encompassing beef, chicken, and pork.
The forecast was for meat exports as a whole to amount to US$ 8 billion this year, including US$ 3 billion in chicken exports and US$ 3 billion in beef exports. Beef exports, according to the secretary, account for less than 3% of Brazil’s total exports.
"The majority of the specific goals for meat this year have already been met, after ten months. But it is evident that it is a matter that causes us considerable concern, especially with regard to next year’s goals," he said.
Ramalho also pointed out that, depending upon the results in imports, Brazil’s foreign trade should close the year at "very near US$ 200 billion."
He went on to say that the forecast is for exports to attain US$ 120 billion next year. In the past two years, he recalled, average export growth in Brazil was 32%, a figure surpassed by only two countries, China and Russia, each with 35%.
ABr