Brazil-Meat industry slows down.

BRAZIL.

MEAT PLANTS CLOSE.

Several of the major players in the Brazilian meat industry, have closed down their plants and taken extended summer holidays, giving the staff paid leave.

The unprecedented move is caused by the lack of export orders for beef, pork and poultry and gives the market time to heal itself.

Brazil is now in mid summer and the timing is perfect, as the cattle will gain weight in the paddock or feed lots and there will be no shortage of numbers, when the global demand increases.

The Hilton quota into Europe will be no problem this year as it is assumed that by the end of 2009 all Brazilian cattle will be eligible for the EU market.

The Brazilian meat industry are incensed by the European ban, which they consider was gross manipulation of the market and blatant protectionism, by the Irish farm groups, who today are in serious trouble themselves.

Great Britain are no strangers to imported beef and have been importing for over 100 years, where as Ireland are not used to cheap imports and complain bitterly about the imports of pork and beef to the country.

Brazilian producers receive only 20% of the market value of cattle that is received in Europe, as the farmers work without subsidies.