Beef exports down 47 percent in November as Chinese ban continues

Brazilian meat producers say beef exports were down 47 percent in November from last year. The numbers continue to reflect China’s ban on Brazilian beef enforced by China on September 4. The embargo came after two atypical cases of mad cow disease in the country — which health authorities say represent no sanitary threat.

Year-to-date exports are 7 percent below the same period last year in terms of volume, but revenue has actually gone up by 10 percent thanks to the devaluation of the Brazilian currency and the rise of commodity prices. So far, Brazil has exported 1.7 million tons of bovine meat, raising USD 8.5 billion. China and Hong Kong alone account for 54 percent of all Brazilian beef exports. The U.S. and Chile are the next largest buyers.

Late in November, China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) authorized the unloading of beef shipments certified before September 4.

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