Aussie beef exports to Brazil surge

Stronger Brazilian demand for Australian beef has been the catalyst for the rise in shipments to South America, with Australian beef exports for the January-May period up 4% year-on-year, totalling 3,567 tonnes swt. Exports to Brazil rose 61% for the period but, in contrast, declined 14.5% to Chile.

According to Secex (Foreign Trade Secretariat), Brazilian beef imports during the first five months of 2014 rose 5% year-on-year, to 18,998 tonnes swt – mainly driven by the World Cup, which starts this Friday. Australian beef shipments to Brazil totalled 1,346 tonnes swt, up 61% year-on-year, composed mainly of primal cuts, with frozen rump (mostly rump cap) representing 96% of total shipments. Imports from Paraguay and Argentina also registered an increase, up 18% and 4% respectively.

In contrast, beef exports to Chile declined 14.5% for the same period, to 2,221 tonnes swt. Interestingly, despite the lower total shipments, frozen exports increased substantially, up 129% year-on-year, to 838 tonnes swt with thick flank/knuckle accounting for 87% of total shipments.

Fonte: MLA - Meat and Livestock Australia (11/06/2014)