Brazil beef exports fall 23%

A DOWNWARD trend in Brazil’s cattle cycle, due to reduced profitability for store producers in recent years, has reduced cattle supplies, and the strong domestic market has responded with sharp price increases.

The loss of the EU export market also contributed to an 18% reduction in cattle disposals for the first quarter of 2008.

Figures for March were more than 25% lower than 2007, and this market trend of scarcity is expected to continue into 2009.