Brazilian meat exports rose 10.7 per cent in January compared with the same month of last year, and totalled US$868.4 million, rpeorts the Arab-Brazil news agency. Despite the good performance, the segment did not guarantee growth in overall exports by the segment, which dropped by 1.8 per cent compared with January 2009 and totalled US$4 billion.

According to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, with regard to meats, raw meat had the best performance. Foreign sales of the product grew 43.1 per cent, and generated revenues of US$318 million, equivalent to 18.4 per cent of total meat exports.

According to the ministry, the drop in overall exports resulted from reduced exports of the soy products, which consists of grain, chaff and oil. Sales fell by 55.3 per cent volume-wise and by 40.5 per cent in terms of value. This was so because sales took place earlier than usual in 2009.

Despite the overall decline, exports to several countries increased. Two of them were the United Arab Emirates, which purchased 50 per cent more, and Algeria, to which sales grew by 49 per cent. India was the highlight, with an increase of 148.8 per cent.