China ban cuts Brazil’s beef exports by 43 percent in October

Exports of Brazilian beef totaled 108,600 tons and raised USD 542 million in revenue last month. That represents a drop of 43 percent in volume and 31 percent in revenue compared to the same month last year, according to Brazilian slaughterhouse association Abrafigo, with data from Brazil’s Foreign Trade Secretariat. 

In a statement, the association said the drop was due to the suspension of Brazilian beef imports in China after two atypical cases of mad cow disease were identified in Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais at the beginning of September.

According to the association, in October there was a “residual” export of 27,700 tons to China, with the majority — 19,466 tons — entering via Hong Kong. China is the main buyer of Brazilian protein. Between January and September, the Asian giant gobbled up 58 percent of beef shipments from Brazil. 

Year-to-date, beef exports reached 1.6 million tons, a 2.4-percent drop compared to the same period last year. However, in terms of revenue, there was an increase of 16 percent — to USD 8 billion — due to higher international prices.

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