Following the confirmation of a case of BSE in Brazil, two of the country’s largest beef exporters claim to be able to maintain their supply to the Chinese market.

Minerva SA, which claims to process 20% of Brazil’s beef exports, said that during the temporary BSE suspension it will “serve Chinese demand through our operations in Uruguay and Argentina”.

“The company will continue to meet Chinese demand through four slaughter plants: three in Uruguay and one in Argentina, without compromising our market share and our relationship with our customers,” a spokesperson said.

It is not clear whether the Minerva slaughter plants in Uruguay and Argentina will be processing cattle or carcases exported from Brazil, or whether they will be seeking additional cattle from the two countries to fill the Chinese demand.

Export suspension

In a separate statement, Marfrig, another Brazilian beef exporter, said it would use six plants in Argentina and Uruguay to supply the Chinese market in a similar way to Minerva.

Brazil exported 1.238m tonnes of beef to China in 2022.

In 2022, Brazil exported 1.238m tonnes of beef to China, half of its total exports of 2.264m tonnes. Exports were suspended on Thursday following the confirmation of a case of atypical BSE in a cow from a farm in Pará, a northern state in Brazil.

The BSE export suspension comes as part of the disease control protocol signed between the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration for the Supervision of Quality, Inspection and Quarantine from China.

Temporary

Beef exporters from Brazil are now loading pressure on officials to ensure that market access for China is renewed quickly.

By way of an update to its shareholders, Minverva said that it believes that “as in previous periods, the suspension of Brazilian exports is temporary and should be resumed in a short time.”

Brazilian Minister for Agriculture Carlos Favaro has met with Chinese officials in relation to the BSE export suspension.

“The company undertakes to keep shareholders and the market in general informed about the progress of this matter,” a spokesperson said.

Brazilian Minister for Agriculture Carlos Favaro met with China’s ambassador to Brazil Zhu Qingqiao to discuss the BSE export suspension on Thursday and it is understood engagement between the two country’s is ongoing.

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