MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean 2005 beef imports totalled 142.245 tons

Chilean beef imports reached 142.245 tons equivalent to 503 million US dollars in 2005, up 16.000 tons compared to the 126.224 tons of 2004, reports Santiago's Chamber of Commerce.

Three companies concentrate most imports: Cencosud with 31.844 tons (22.4%); Quinto Cuarto with 17.570 tons (12.4%) and D&S, 13.365 tons (9.6%).

Main supplier is Brazil with 63.861 tons, equivalent to 45% of the import market but with a significant drop of 38.6% compared to 2004. Argentina follows with an impressive 300% jump and 39% of the market, 55.428 tons. Other suppliers: Paraguay, 19.596 tons, equivalent to 13.7% market share; Uruguay 2.981 tons; Australia 244, New Zealand 136 and United States.

"This has been a good year for imports. In spite of problems caused by foot and mouth disease in Brazil the market expanded 10%, which is positive and is the result of a campaign, mainly supermarkets, to increase consumption in Chile", said Alejandro Maira general manager of Quinto Cuarto. As to next year "we expect the international meats market and the US dollar to stabilize so Chile can relaunch exports". In related news the Agrarian Studies and Policies Office, ODEPA, reported that Chile's cheese exports increased by 65%.

The value of cheese exports reached US$50 million, up 65 percent, and the volume reached 17.6 tons, up 54%, revealed Octavio Sotomayor head of ODEPA.

Gouda accounted for 85% of all cheese exports, followed by cheddar, edam and parmesan. The primary destination for Chile's exported cheese was Mexico (95%) followed by the United States.

Chile has traditionally been an importer of dairy products. However, for the past several years, output has been increasing ahead of domestic consumption, leading more producers to look outward for growth.

The Chilean dairy industry is growing and incorporating new technology, hoping to take advantage of the great export potential that comes as a result of the free trade agreements Chile has with Canada, Mexico, the European Union, the United States and several other countries.