Brazil exported a total of US$ 3.3 billion in beef from January to September of this year, an increase of 18% over the same period of 2006, according to information disclosed by the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), Monday, October 15.
In September alone, sales have surpassed US$ 360 million, a 2% increase over September of last year.
In the accumulated result for the year, Russia remains the first largest destination for Brazilian raw meat exports followed by Egypt. Exports to Russia led the growth with that country boosting the value of its purchase in 58% and the volume in 84%.
According to the president of Abiec, Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes, the sanitary agreement signed with Russia and Russians' higher income have contributed to the positive result.
From January to September, Russia bought 469.4 thousand tons, spending US$ 632,483. Egypt kept the second place buying 223.7 thousand tons of beef for US$ 283,596 million.
As for industrialized beef, the United States was once again the top buyer in the first nine months of the year, with 118.069 tons of beef purchased for US$ 213.760 million. The United Kingdom was the second biggest buyer of Brazililan canned beef. They bought 118,6 tons of the product for US$ 126,687 million.
Other Arab nations featured in the list of major raw meat importers are Algeria, in the 9th position, with purchases of US$ 81.1 million, a decrease of 1% in comparison with the period from January to September 2006; and Saudi Arabia, in the 10th position, with imports of US$ 73.5 million, 16.6% more than in the first nine months of last year.
In the statistics for September, in addition to those three countries, Lebanon also figures in the list of main destinations, with imports of US$ 6 million, a 101% increase over September of last year.
Egypt is also on the list of major markets for industrialised meat, in the 7th position, at purchases of US$ 7.3 million from January until September, a growth of 47% in comparison with the same period of 2006. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also in the ranking of main destinations, respectively in the 14th and 15th positions.
