Brazil Live Cattle Exports Up in 2012
For the first eight months of 2012, Brazilian live cattle exports increased 44 per cent year-on-year, to 345,969 head (SECEX).
Underpinning the rise in exports so far in 2012 has been a jump in shipments to Venezuela, accounting for 77 per cent of all exports, along with higher volumes to both Egypt and Turkey.
Shipments to Venezuela increased 43 per cent to the end of August, totalling 265,753 head. Brazil is the largest provider of live cattle to Venezuela, which primarily imports live cattle to supply beef for the local market.
While small in volume compared to Venezuela, Brazil has also registered larger exports in 2012 to both Egypt (16,834 head) and Turkey (24,385 head). In contrast, shipments to Lebanon decreased 35 per cent for the same period, to 34,568 head.
In 2011, Brazilian live cattle exports totalled 404,853 head.