MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay meat exports down 25% in first five months of 2009

Paraguay meat exports totaled 245 million US dollars in the first five months of the year, which represents a 25% decline compared to the same period a year ago (328 million US dollars), according to the latest official reports.

More precisely regarding beef, in the five months period, the value of exports dropped from 256 million US dollars last year to 199 million US dollars this year, down 22%. However the difference was not so steep in volume: 73.000 tons last year and 67.000 in 2009.

This is clearly showing the fall in international prices for Paraguayan beef which has been estimated in 12% by consultants Rediex-MIC from Asunción. This also anticipates that Paraguay this year will not be able to reach the record 735 million US dollars in beef exports from 2008.

In other items, pork exports plunged 67%; equine meat, 86% and there has been no operations at all with broilers.

Similarly meat non edible sub-products also felt the pinch having decreased 48% totaling 27.8 million US dollars in the first five months of the year.

In related news Russia announced that beginning this weekend it will suspend all meat imports from Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay for sanitary reasons, according to the country’s Veterinary Services Office.

Apparently “strange substances” were detected in equine meat from Argentina; in beef cuts from Brazil and Paraguay. Salmonella was detected in meat products shipped from an abattoir in Spain.

The ban is also extensive to three Belgian pork processing plants and two from United States.