Brazil – beef exports hit record volume in 2019

Brazilian beef exports for 2019 hit an all-time record of 1.5m tonnes, which was up 13% on 2018 beef export volumes and more than 200,000t ahead of the previous record set in 2007. Brazil’s record year for beef exports was underpinned by enormous demand from China.

Australia – beef exports hit record high in December

Australia set a new all-time record for beef exports in a single month when it shipped just under 115,700t of beef to export markets in December, which is 27% ahead of the same month in 2018. This brings Australian beef exports for all of 2019 to 1.2m tonnes – up 9% on 2018 exports.

Bulgaria – Officials to cull thousands of pigs

Veterinary authorities in Bulgaria announced last week the country will cull 24,000 pigs after an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) was detected on a pig farm in the north of the country. In August last year, Bulgaria were forced to cull 130,000 pigs after the deadly virus was detected.

US – oil prices rally above $70/barrel

The price of Brent crude oil rallied about $70/barrel this week, as tensions rise between the US and Iran in the Middle East. Oil markets are fearful that any outbreak of conflict between both countries could have major supply implications for oil in 2020.