Despite Record Beef Exports Brazilian Cattle Ranchers Can’t Make a Profit

For the third consecutive year, Brazilian cattle ranchers had a loss of revenue, in spite of record beef exports, reports the president of the Cattle Forum (Fórum Nacional Permanente da Pecuária de Corte), Antenor Nogueira.

The math is simple, says Nogueira. Operational costs rose 10.1% in 2004 and 6.41% in 2005 while the price of beef dropped around 12% during the same period. And in 2005 the appearance of foot and mouth disease made things worse.

Nogueira emphasizes that foot and mouth disease must be eradicated from all of South America as soon as possible if the region is to continue being an important player on the international beef market.

Nogueira says that Brazilian cattle ranchers, faced with falling income, are sending more cows to the slaughterhouse and that will have consequences.

He reports that in 2005, 40% of all the cattle slaughtered in Brazil were cows and that can only mean fewer calves in the near future.

Nogueira concluded by saying that the export sector outlook remains bright. Beef export revenue was up 22.4%, going from US$ 2.57 billion in 2004, to US$ 3.15 billion last year. And 2006 may be even better, said Nogueira.

Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil Gets New Weapon to Detect Illegal GMO Soybean

US-based Strategic Diagnostics Inc. announced the release of its new, second-generation test to detect ...

China Keeps Quiet in Face of Impending Brazilian Ban on Chinese Goods

China will await the Brazilian government’s decisions on adopting safeguards against the importation of ...

Brazil Exports US$ 1.7 Billion in Leather, a 8% Slump

Leather exports from Brazil totaled US$ 1.68 billion from January to October this year, ...

Brazil Amazon’s Expedition Tries to Prevent Extinction of the Manatee

A expedition that has been studying the situation of the Amazon manatee (Expedição Peixe-Boi ...

The Little One

The main beneficiaries of the new minimum wage increase will be the 12 million ...

Talking About Films and Keeping Your Friends in Brazil

Because of my critical nature, I approach a new film that everyone is raving ...

Chavez Sees US Hand in Brazil’s Delay to Admit Venezuela to Mercosur

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the United States of undermining the country's ...

Damascus Fair Draws Brazil’s Small Businesses Attention

São José do Rio Preto, city in the interior of the Brazilian southeastern state ...

Immigrants Role: To Win Friends and Influence Congress

After debating for several weeks about the touchy subject of immigration reform, the United ...

Brazil Postal Service Goes on Strike. Workers Want US$ 100 Plus 47% Raise

Starting today, post office branches throughout Brazil will be closed. Gathered in meetings in ...