Brazilian Ovine and Caprine Meat Exports

Sheep and goat meat. A new opportunity opens up for the Brazilian goat and sheep meat industry on the international stage. Since last March, these meats have been exportable to Kuwait. The Gulf country had expressed interest in sheep meat from Brazil in 2017, through the Public Agency for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources.

According to information from ANBA, there really is demand for the product, but it would take time-consuming planning to agree on the quantity, quality and price that Brazil could offer. Just as Brazil secured Kuwait’s entire poultry market, New Zealand’s goat and sheep meat needs are fully met. Goat imports to Kuwait are mainly sold to countries such as Somalia and India, which are closer to Kuwait than Brazil.

To overcome these barriers, Marco Bomfim, head of the Goat and Sheep Unit at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), believes that producers can rely on previous experiences in the beef and poultry industry. “As Brazil has a great relationship with these countries, this sales mix could materialize. The Minister of Agriculture [Tereza Cristina] traveled to Egypt last year and there was a demand for 10,000 heads of goats. We are not yet prepared to supply so much, but the demand is still there,” she said.

Currently, there are around 9.8 million head of goats in Brazil, 90% of which are located in the Northeast. Sheep number 18 million – 60% in the Northeast and 25% in the South. Sheep meat production is 91 million tons. To supply its domestic market, Brazil imports at least 10% of its needs, the majority of which comes from Uruguay.

Information About Sheep and Goat Meat