Brazil-Beef exports down.

BRAZIL - BEEF EXPORTS DOWN IN MARCH.

Beef exports from Brazil were down in March compared to last year, but the slide in export sales has started to slow down.

This according to analysts in Brazil could represent a change in fortunes for the country’s beef sales overseas.

The slide in sales has been caused by the current global economic crisis.

Government figures showed beef exports for the month to be $233.6 million - 14.4 per cent down on March 2008 when they were $273 million.

In volume Brazil exported 82,138 tonnes compared to 84,000 in the same month the previous year.

IN January sales were $168.4 million, 54 per cent down on the 2008 figure of $364.7 million and in February they were 27 per cent down - $185./8 million compared to $254.2 million.

The Brazilian beef export association Abiec said the figures represent a recovery.

However, while exports are down, so too are meat imports into Brazil. In March the country imported $74.838 million worth of meat compared to $99.5 million a year ago.

Abiec said that another positive sign that the recovery was on the way was the rise in exports of manufactured meat products of nine per cent - reaching $63 million. The volumes also increased from 15,000 tonnes to 15,800 tonnes.

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