Brazilian meat exports drop 16% in February, says Abrafrigo

Beef exports had an expressive drop in revenue and volume in the month of February compared to the same period in 2022, according to data from Abrafrigo (Brazilian Association of Slaughterhouses).

The result reflects the suspension of exports to China after the atypical case of mad cow disease reported in Brazil.

During the period, exports represented US$695.2 million and 152,300 thousand tonnes, a 29% drop in revenues and 16% in volume.

According to Abrafrigo, the number reflects part of the effects of the sanitary embargo, with results tending to worsen in March.

In January, export revenue had grown 7% and volume 17%.

The revenue reached US$1.54 billion in the accumulated year, while the volume was 336,000 tonnes.

Compared with the first two months of 2022 – of US$1.772 billion and 339,200 tonnes, respectively – the result represents a drop of 13% in revenue and 1% in volume.

China is the largest buyer of Brazilian beef, importing 100,100 tonnes in January and 72,536 tonnes in February.

In the first 2 months of this year, the revenue obtained with meat exports to China was U$840 million, a 4.2% drop compared to last year.

It is followed by the United States, with a movement of 35,651 tonnes and U$171.6 million in the month of February.

The number is also lower in revenue (-25.6%) and volume (-18%) compared to 2022.

The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Favaro, said the meeting between technicians and officials of China held on Tuesday (7 Mar. 2023) might be the last before the resumption of sales to the Asian country.

According to Favaro, all pending issues related to the tracking and monitoring of animals have been resolved on the Brazilian side.

In addition, the minister said that the Chinese authorities have dispensed with the visit of a Brazilian delegation to the country before the resumption.

The minister should go to China before the state visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

He is expected to arrive from March 20 to 22, while Lula will go on March 28.

The intention is to prepare everything for the president’s arrival with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2021, China suspended the purchase of Brazilian meat for almost 4 months after Brazil reported atypical cases of mad cow disease. At the time, exports fell by more than 47% compared to 2020.

With information from Podder360