Brazil expands beef export negotiations with Turkey

During an official mission to Ankara, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) took significant steps toward opening the Turkish market to Brazilian beef—one of the few major global markets still closed to the product, along with Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea. 

The mission was led by Julio Ramos, Deputy Secretary of Trade and International Relations at Mapa, joined by Marcelo Mota, Director of the Department of Animal Health at the Agricultural Defense Secretariat (SDA/Mapa), with support from the Brazilian Embassy in Egypt. The goal was to position Brazil as a strategic partner to meet Turkey’s growing food needs, highlighting the quality, safety, and halal compliance of Brazilian beef. 

Key meetings were held with Ersin Dilber, Director-General of the Directorate of Food and Control at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Mustafa Çatak, Head of the Department for Animal and Animal Product Border Control; Mustafa Kayhan, Director-General of the Turkish Meat and Milk Board; and Atilla Bastirmaci, Deputy Director-General for International Affairs and Agreements at the Ministry of Trade, who oversees relations with the Americas. The delegation also met with Minister Marcelo Viegas at the Brazilian Embassy in Ankara. 

Julio Ramos underscored the importance of agricultural exports to Brazil’s economic growth, stating that increased trade with Turkey could boost GDP, create jobs, and raise income levels. This initiative is supported by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), which assist in promoting exporters and strengthening trade relationships. 

Besides beef, discussions also addressed other agricultural products, focusing on efforts to lift restrictions on poultry exports from Brazil’s state of Rio Grande do Sul, which were imposed due to concerns over Newcastle disease. 

The planned opening of an agricultural attaché office in Ankara by the end of the year is expected to enhance dialogue between the countries and bolster Brazil’s international agricultural trade efforts. Turkey is currently the seventh-largest destination for Brazilian agricultural exports. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, Brazil exported approximately R$ 2.6 billion worth of goods to Turkey, with key contributions from the soybean complex, textiles, and coffee. 

This year, Brazil has achieved four new market entries for agricultural products in Turkey: exports of non-edible gelatin and collagen, egg products, organoleptic viscera for animal feed, and bovine heparin. 

“This mission reaffirms our commitment to expanding trade and showcasing the quality of Brazilian production, helping to fight inflation and deliver top-quality products. Under the leadership of Minister Carlos Fávaro and with the guidance of Secretary of Trade and International Relations Luis Rua and Secretary of Agricultural Defense Carlos Goulart, we are committed to creating jobs, boosting GDP, and increasing income in Brazil. Turkey is a strategic partner, and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ApexBrasil, we are focused on not just opening new markets but solidifying them through active engagement with Brazilian exporters to ensure enduring and beneficial trade relations for all,” said Secretary Julio Ramos. 

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