Brazilian exports of vacuum meat to China increased 38.3% in September compared to the previous year, reaching 187,340 tonsindustrial group Abrafrigo reported on Wednesday, which helped boost total monthly exports to an all-time high.
China is the largest market for Brazilian vacuum meatand has increased its purchases as part of its broader strategy to avoid agricultural products from the United States amid an ongoing trade dispute.
Global demand for vacuum-packed meat has helped Brazil offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on its exports, Abrafrigo said. In August, the United States imposed a 50% tariff on shipments of several Brazilian products, including vacuum-packed meat, which already had a 26.4% tariff.
Latin America’s largest economy has been expanding its exports to both new and traditional markets amid a restructuring of global trade caused by US tariffs.with similar trends also seen in soybean exports, which also reached record volumes.
Total vacuum meat exports, including fresh and processed meat, edible offal and tallow, generated US$1.92 billion in revenue in Septemberwith volumes that reached 373,867 tons, 49% more in value and 17% more in interannual volume.
“This strong performance came in the second month of additional tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian products, demonstrating the resilience of the sector and its ability to take advantage of new trade opportunities,” Abrafrigo said. Exports to the United States, Brazil’s second-largest vacuum meat market so far this year, fell 41% in September, to US$102.9 million.
The European Union became the second largest destination last month, led by Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. EU purchases amounted to US$131.7 million, 106% more than the previous year. Abrafrigo indicated that 130 countries increased their purchases of Brazilian beef this year, while 48 reduced them.
