MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean beef exports target: 80 million US dollars

Chilean beef exports are forecasted to reach 80 million US dollars in 2005, which represents a 200% increase over 2004 when they totalled 25 million US dollars, according to Chilean Deputy Agriculture Secretary, Arturo Barrera.

The announcement was made during a review of the "Beef Exports Operative Plan" with special emphasis in the United States market.

"The recognition process by the US of our sanitary and inspection system will be completed in a few months and we'll be able to make our first shipments before the end of the year", revealed Mr. Barrera, who also addressed the consolidation process regarding such demanding markets as South Korea, Russia and China.

"This overseas sales consolidation process will force us to adjust our productive system so they strictly abide by these markets conditions".

Mr. Barrera went on to say that currently there are 550 livestock farms in Chile registered in the Cattle paddocks under official control, PABCO, which depends from the Sanitary Office of the Agriculture Department.

"Of the total number, 330 belong to Category A, means they abide by conditions from the European Union market, and equally important 172 of them are small farms, almost family level which we are promoting", said Mr. Barrera.

Another issue was traceability, or the system which enables tracing beef to the individual animal and original farm.

"This is an unavoidable process linked to modern beef production which will help consolidate our meats export drive", added Mr. Barrera.

In related news the Chilean Agriculture Statistics and Policies Office reported that in the first quarter of 2005, the country exported 22,276 tons of pork, equivalent to 57 million US dollars.

This represents a 54% dollars increase and 43% volume increase over the same period in 2004. Japan, 64%; South Korea, 24% and Mexico, 4%, were the main customers.