Brazil’s beef exports are expected to set a new record in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic

According to the president of the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Abiec), Antônio Jorge Camardelli, Brazilian beef exports should surpass the record set in 2019 and generate US$8 billion in foreign exchange this year, even in the face of the coronavirus induced crisis.

In 2020, Brazil will be able to ship more than 2 million tons, 130,000 more than last year, when the volume had already grown 12.4% compared to 2018, according to data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) compiled by Abiec. According to Camardelli, when the pandemic ends, countries that have the most organized chains, such as Brazil, will have the chance to increase their participation in global markets. According to him, the country does not have any production units out of action in the bovine meat area, due to Covid-19.

The executive pointed out that China remains the main destination for beef shipments. In 2019, the Chinese accounted for 26.7% of purchases (494,000 tons) and revenues of US$2.67 billion, according to Abiec data.  He also pointed out that the North American market was reopened for Brazilian exporters of fresh protein in February this year and improves the chain’s competitiveness. “Brazilian meatpackers that do not currently have access to China can export to the United States,” he said.

Despite Brazil’s sanitary conditions that favor exports, Camardelli admitted that the country still does not reach around 40% of the markets that import meat, composed mainly of countries that consume gourmet meat and pay the best prices.  “We want to participate in countries like Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada, so as to continuously expand our participation in world markets,” he said.

Source: Reuters

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