First Shipment of Brazil Beef Has Landed in United States

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The first shipment of Brazilian beef has now arrived at a U.S. port, according to Brazilian Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi. He made the comments when discussing a recent Asian trade mission. Indications were that shipments of beef from Brazil to the U.S. could begin this month, with the statement by Maggi a confirmation that is the case.

Brazil has access to the U.S. market for beef under a 64,805-tonne quota available to countries that do not have a trade deal in place with the United States. Officials from Brazil’s JBS said this week they believe Brazilian beef will be competitive in the U.S. market even if they were to come in outside the quota and be subject to an import duty.

The initial shipment is a small one that arrived via an American Airlines flight Sept. 27 in Miami and was alerted by Maggi. The tonnage of the initial shipment was not indicated and GlobalMeatNews.com indicated Brazil beef was also ocean-bound for the United States.

Marfrig was the first Brazilian firm cleared to export beef to the U.S. and the company has linkages to the US firm Keystone Foods. Marfrig said they shipped their first container of beef to the U.S. just after receiving clearance to start exporting beef to the US earlier this month. The beef in that first container shipment was from its Batagaussu plant in Mato Grosso do Sul, according to reports. Marfrig said it now has another five plants cleared to sell beef the US. “After making the first sea shipment to the US from Brazil, Marfrig has brought its incredible ability to deliver high animal protein on a global scale and support Brazil’s potential to once again become a global leader in the production of cattle,” said Andrew Murchie, CEO of Marfrig’s beef division.

JBS has also been cleared to ship beef to the U.S., with five of the company’s plants okayed for export and the company was expected to ship beef this past weekend.

OTE: This column is copyrighted material; therefore reproduction or retransmission is prohibited under U.S. copyright laws.