In addition to being the largest exporter of meat in the world, Brazilian producers also sell live animals to other countries. Morocco, in northwest Africa, is the newest destination on the list of countries importing live cattle from Brazil.

The first shipment arrived in the African country on Sunday. Nearly 3,000 heads of cattle disembarked at the Port of Jorf Lasfar, on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Due to the recent case of atypical mad cow disease reported in Pará, the loading process followed strict sanitary criteria, according to local press.

Pará is the main exporter of live cattle in Brazil. In 2022, shipments generated almost US$ 130 million for the state.

Overall, Brazilian producers earned nearly US$ 200 million from the export of these animals. The shipments amounted to around 75 million kilograms, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa).

Morocco has become the 19th destination among the countries importing live cattle from Brazil, according to data registered by Mapa. The top three countries on the list are Iraq, Turkey, and Jordan. Together, they accounted for about 65% of the country's revenue in the sector.

The remaining share is divided among Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Congo, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Marshall Islands, Norway, Singapore, Italy, United States, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh.

Source: Revista Oeste - Artur Piva - March 31, 2023