MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil leads world meat exports

Brazil's meat exports this year should reach 5,8 billion US dollars, 42% above 2003, equivalent to 4,2 million tons, 23% over last year, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Brazil will retain this year the leading world position as beef and broiler exporter which it conquered in 2003.

Besides competitiveness and aggressive marketing, Brazil benefited from the sanitary problems faced by United States and Canada.

Eliezer Lopes from the Agriculture Ministry Marketing Department said that the mad cow cases reported in Canada and the US helped Brazil increase beef exports 50% in volume and 74% in income.

Beef exports reached 849,000 tons equivalent to 1,8 billion US dollars and processed beef exports jumped 39%, representing 443 million US dollars.

Regarding broilers, in eleven months of 2004, Brazil exported 2,1 million tons which represented 2,2 billion US dollars, 44% increase in money and 23% in volume.

Pork exports on the other hand contracted 1% in the first eleven months of 2004, totalling 429,000 tons. However better prices represented a 34,7% increase in US dollars.