Australian beef suppliers stay positive following US-Brazil ruling
The United State Department of Agriculture has cleared Brazilian beef for re-entry into the US market.
Brazil was granted access to the US market in 2016 but the few shipments sent failed to meet USDA food safety standards upon inspection. The US imported almost 10,000 tonnes swt of Brazilian beef over the eleven months before access was removed in 2017.
In 2019, Australia was the largest beef supplier to the US beef market outside North America, exporting 254,000 tonnes swt.
Industry association Meat and Livestock Australia acknowledged that Brazil’s re-entry would affect Australia’s sales but said it would not “substantially change the market overnight”.
It said: “As under their previous access, shipments will commence in small volumes, testing USDA import inspection. Longer term, however, Brazil’s presence in the US will depend on many evolving factors, including China’s appetite for Brazilian beef and how much product is available for other markets.”
