Brazil’s beef exports are set to hit a historic record from January to May 2024, according to Canal Rural. Preliminary data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) indicates that Brazil exported 735,000 tons of beef this year up to the fourth week of May, with forecasts suggesting that the 2022 record will be surpassed, exceeding 800,000 tons.
The volume of fresh, chilled, or frozen beef exported reached 178,800 tons in May, until the 24th. Last year, 168,400 tons were shipped over 22 business days in May. The current partial daily export average stands at 10,500 tons, a 37.4% increase compared to the total volume exported in May last year (7,600 tons).
Despite the increase in shipment volume, falling prices remain a significant challenge for the sector. So far in May, the average price per ton has been USD 4,500, an 11.40% decrease compared to May 2023.
April had already been a record month for beef exports, with 236,700 tons sold, generating USD 1.04 billion in revenue and resulting in an average price of USD 4,400 per ton. China remained the main importer, purchasing 101,000 tons of the total exported.
New slaughterhouses approved
The volume shipped to China has the potential to continue growing, thanks to the approval of new Brazilian slaughterhouses for export to the Chinese market. According to the Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro, new audits will be conducted by the Chinese. The aim is to form batches of plants so that compliance checks are not done individually.
In March, China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) approved 38 slaughterhouses, a record number of authorizations at once. As a result, Brazil expects to increase animal protein export revenue to China by BRL 10 billion.
During a public hearing at the Agriculture Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Fávaro stated that nearly all plants should meet the criteria in the next audit. “When we have a batch of 10, 15, or 20 slaughterhouses, we will conduct a new audit, and I am confident this number will increase. Nearly all plants are ready,” said the minister.
Fávaro also reiterated the expectation that the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) will recognize Brazil’s status as a foot-and-mouth disease-free zone without vaccination in 2025. This would allow the country to access higher-paying markets such as Japan and South Korea, the minister said.