In the first eleven months of the year, Paraguay has exported some 320,000 tons of beef with revenue reaching 1,6 billion dollars, indicates data from the National Animal Health and Quality Service (Senacsa).

This figure and revenue will show that 2024 will be the highest on record since 2016.

Chile remains the main market for Paraguayan beef having taken some 36% of total exports. The second market is Taiwan with 11%. (Paraguay is the only country in South America which maintains full relations with the government in Taipei). Other significant markets are Brazil with 9%, United States and Israel with 8% each. Russia received 5% of the shipments, while the European Union accounted for 4% of Paraguayan beef exports.

Paraguay in 2023, according to US Department of Agriculture, was among the ten top exporters of beef with 445,000 tons. The list as the leading exporter is headed by Brazil over 3 million tons.

Likewise by the end of November, Paraguay exported over 11,000 tons of pork, equivalent to some US$ 31 million in revenue. Here again Taiwan was the leading market, acquiring 87% of pork exports, followed by Uruguay with 12%.

Regarding poultry, Paraguay so far in eleven months has exported more than 6,000 tons of chicken meat, generating more than US$ 10 million.

MercoPress

China figures as the main market for Argentine beef, having absorbed in nine months to October 78% of exports, based on data from the ABC Consortium, which represents the country’s largest beef exporters.

Argentina’s exports of beef totaled 641,900 tons in the first ten months of the current year, (Jan/October) a 14.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In terms of revenue, these shipments generated US$ 2.5 billion, a 7.2% increase over the same period last year.

During October, exports reached 68,400 tons of refrigerated and frozen beef, equivalent to US$ 274.3 million. However, this represented a month-on-month decline of 5.9% in volume and 8.4% in revenue, according to the ABC Consortium’s report.

Other significant buyers of Argentine beef include, Israel with 6.7%; United States, 4.7%; Germany 4%; Netherlands 3.8%, Mexico and Italy, 1% each.

Despite China’s dominance as a buyer, the prices paid by Chinese importers for Argentine beef remain low, averaging US$ 3,360 per ton in October 2024. This is a sharp drop from the peak price of US$ 5,900 per ton achieved in May 2022.

MercoPress

China has lifted trade restrictions on two Australian meat processing facilities, allowing the full resumption of red meat exports to the country, the Australian government announced on Tuesday.

This move marks the removal of restrictions from all 10 Australian abattoirs that were banned between 2020 and 2022.

The bans were initially imposed around the time China blocked imports of various commodities from Australia, including coal, barley, and wine. Since the new government took power in Canberra in 2022, almost all these restrictions have been lifted, with trade in lobster, the final banned product, set to restart by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the news, stating, “This is great news for Australian exporters, producers, and farmers. Since we were elected we’ve worked tirelessly to resume trade and that’s exactly what we are seeing. It’s a win for trade and a win for Australian jobs.”

Original story by RTHK

French supermarket giant Carrefour apologized so that Brazilian meatpackers would end their boycott of the group and resume deliveries to stores nationwide, Agencia Brasil reported Tuesday.

The measure had been adopted after the company’s CEO Alexandre Bompard said last week that meat produced in the South American country did not meet European standards for which he was forced to recant.

“We know that Brazilian agriculture provides high-quality meat, respect for standards and taste. If Carrefour France’s communication generated confusion and could have been interpreted as questioning our partnership with Brazilian agriculture and as a criticism of it, we apologize,” he said in a letter sent to Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro.

The crisis began when Bompard posted on a social network the letter he had sent to French producers, promising not to use meat from Mercosur countries in French markets. The message was poorly received by Brazilian producers, who started a movement to boycott the supply of meat to Carrefour’s markets in Brazil.

The Masterboi meatpacker, which supplies between 400 and 450 tons of meat a month to Carrefour stores, told Agência Brasil that it had suspended new meat deliveries since the weekend. However, with Tuesday’s retraction, the company has authorized the resumption of deliveries. According to Carrefour, there have been no meat supply problems in recent days.

In a statement sent to shareholders, Carrefour Brasil said that deliveries had resumed. “The delivery schedule for beef products has been resumed and the Company expects the normalization of the replenishment of such products over the next few days,” it said.

MercoPress

London’s historic Smithfield meat market, the oldest in the capital, is set to shut down permanently by 2028 after its operators voted against relocation plans.

The market, which has been in operation for 850 years, was initially slated to move to a £1bn development in Dagenham, along with Billingsgate fish market in Canary Wharf, which will also close.

The City of London Corporation, which owns and operates both markets, decided to reject the relocation plan due to a surge in construction costs and wider inflation. The corporation has committed to working with market traders to help them find alternative premises and has offered compensation to the traders.

Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, stated that the move “represents a positive new chapter” for the markets. He emphasized that by stepping back from direct market operations, the corporation aims to create opportunities for these businesses to thrive independently.

Traders, however, expressed concerns, telling the BBC that “it’s all about the money now.”

For more details, you can read the full story at  Farming UK

Halal meat now accounts for 30% of lamb sales in the UK, according to new research from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

The findings shed light on how the consumption habits of halal meat consumers have evolved since the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, providing valuable insights for farmers and the wider meat industry.

The AHDB report delves into the behaviours and preferences of halal meat consumers, helping businesses in the sector better understand what drives their purchasing decisions. It also highlights the significance of Islamic festivals and offers key opportunities for the halal meat sector to meet the growing demand for specific products.

While Muslims represent around 6.5% of the UK population, they are a crucial consumer base for lamb, contributing to a notable portion of the market. Despite a steady decline in lamb consumption over the last two decades, mainly due to the higher price of lamb compared to other meats such as chicken, lamb continues to be a key protein source for the Muslim community. In fact, 80% of halal consumers eat lamb weekly, and 64% consume mutton weekly—figures that far exceed the 6% of the general UK population who include lamb in their diets.

The research also reveals that Muslims spent £823 million on halal meat alone in 2023, a substantial sum that highlights the growing market for halal products. In comparison, in 2016, UK Muslims were estimated to have spent £4.64 billion on halal food and beverages, reflecting a significant shift in spending patterns and consumption habits in recent years.

The findings indicate that farmers and producers could benefit from gaining a deeper understanding of the halal market and its unique requirements. By tailoring offerings to suit the preferences of halal consumers, the industry has the potential to tap into a lucrative and loyal consumer base, ensuring long-term growth for the sector.

As demand for halal products continues to rise, the AHDB’s report offers a timely opportunity for the industry to better meet the needs of Muslim consumers, ensuring that they continue to enjoy high-quality halal lamb and mutton products while supporting the growth of this important market.

Source: AHDB

Chesterfield Poultry, based in Thorne, South Yorkshire, has taken a major step forward in its operations by transitioning from relying on Food Standards Agency (FSA) meat inspectors to creating its own team of Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs).

This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to quality and safety in poultry production.

The transition was made possible after Chesterfield Poultry’s team successfully completed the FDQ Level 2 Award for Proficiency in Poultry Meat Inspection, specialising in the Broilers and Hens pathway. The qualification ensures that staff have the technical expertise required to carry out poultry meat inspections with the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Following a final assessment by the Food Standards Agency’s Official Veterinarian (FSA OV), Chesterfield Poultry’s newly trained team received FSA authorisation to perform post-mortem inspection duties. The transition was supported by the FDQ-accredited Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) and their lead assessor, Dr. Craig Kirby.

Mihaela Otter, Technical Manager at Chesterfield Poultry, who led the project, expressed her pride in the team’s achievements. “With a rigorous qualification like this, it was vital to choose learners with strong knowledge and understanding before beginning the course with AIMS. When the team reached the assessment stage with Dr. Kirby, I was confident their dedication would ensure success. I am incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished,” she said.

Chesterfield Poultry Director Nadeem Iqbal also highlighted the significance of the initiative, both for the company and its workforce. “This journey has been immensely rewarding. It has given our top employees the opportunity to showcase their skills and contribute to the high-quality poultry production at our Thorne plant. Thanks to Mihaela’s leadership and the support from FDQ and AIMS, we are confident that our products meet the highest inspection standards and are safe for consumers,” he said.

With this move, Chesterfield Poultry not only strengthens its internal capabilities but also ensures that its products continue to meet rigorous food safety standards, giving consumers confidence in the quality of their poultry products.

A significant shift in the Brazilian meat industry has emerged as major companies begin to suspend their supply to Carrefour and its subsidiaries in Brazil. This move comes as a direct response to the French retailer’s recent announcement of a boycott on Mercosur meat products.

The decision to halt meat supply was initiated on Friday, November 22, 2024. It follows a statement made by Carrefour’s global CEO, Alexandre Bompard, on Wednesday. Bompard declared a boycott on meat from Mercosur countries, citing solidarity with French agricultural interests.

This retaliation could significantly impact Carrefour’s operations. The company’s Brazilian unit contributes 17% of global revenues and 51% of net profits. A loss of 2-5% of Brazilian customers could cost Carrefour $315-788 million in revenue.

Industry sources reveal that 30% of Carrefour’s Brazilian units are already experiencing supply disruptions. The impact is primarily affecting beef products, with a growing number of poultry suppliers joining the movement. No interruptions in pork deliveries have been reported so far.

Richard Mann | The Rio Times