Brazil has announced the end of the Russian embargo on Brazilian beef produced and exports in the state of Pará. Russia imposed the restrictions during March, after the confirmation of an atypical case of BSE or “mad cow” disease in Marabá, in the south of the state, in late February.
Brazilian exports of fresh beef reached 124,440 tons in March, a drop of 26.4% year-on-year, amid the self-imposed suspension of protein shipments to China that was only lifted at the end of last month, according to data from the federal government this month.
The price of beef (fresh, chilled or frozen) exported by Brazil mainly to China in the first week of February maintained the downward trend of the last eight months, but, according to analysts, the trend now is for prices to recover in the rest of the year, although to levels lower than those observed in June.
China purchased much more beef in January than in the same month of 2022, but paid much less. In effect during most of the second half of 2022, China was prepared to pay up to US$ 6,200a ton of prime beef protein, but since last month it dropped drastically to US$ 4,800 the ton, forcing a renegotiation of volumes and having an impact on the overall industry.
Brazil's protein producer giant Minerva Foods issued a note to the market communicating the purchase of state-of-the-art Breeders and Packers Uruguay (BPU Meat) abattoir and processing plant for USD 40 million. The conclusion of the deal is still pending approval by the Uruguayan authorities.
Uruguay's Frigorífico Rosario has been allowed to resume exports to China following a sanction on Sept. 30, 2021, that banned the meat processing plant from sending shipments to the Asian giant, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Fernando Mattos announced.
In one of his first 2022 conference meetings, United States president Joe Bided and members of his cabinet discussed the need for greater competition in beef, pork and poultry processing, and announced a one billion action plan for fairer, more competitive, and more resilient meat and poultry supply chain, helping to bring down prices for consumers and ensure farmers and ranchers get a fair price for their product
Brazil's major protein producer and exporter, Marfrig Global Foods, also the world's largest supplier of hamburgers started this month shipments to the United States from two of its plants, one in Chupinguaia, state of Rondonia and the other at Alegrete, Rio Grande do Sul.
Disruptions of global maritime transport and major rivers struck by insufficient water flow to allow vessels to navigate are threatening beef exports Mercosur, including Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, when prices for food commodities are rising all over the world.
United States branch of Brazilian giant meat processor started to return to a plant in Texas, but with new instructions, get ready to do things a bit differently than normal: work by hand.