Brazil-JBS-Swift praised for US beef exports.

BRAZIL-JBS-SWIFT.

Swift & Company played a big role in helping Colorado’s beef exports grow by 45 percent in 2008 from 2007.

Dan Halstrom, head of international sales for the Greeley-based company, attributes this to both a growing demand for the product and improved delivery because many countries have upgraded their infrastructures.

These factors have helped Swift’s exports remain high despite dips in other state exports and the recession, he said.

"It’s basic economics. There’s increased demand," said Halstrom, who named Japan, China, South Korea, Mexico and Canada as major customers for Colorado beef and pork products. "The basic premise is that in general, a lot of these destination markets that are outside the U.S., their supply domestically cannot keep up with the demand domestically.