According to data from the Brazilian Association of Industries, the European Union accounted for only 3.39% of the total Brazilian beef exports worldwide. Of this total, France represented just 0.66%, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
The statement from Carrefour’s global CEO, Alexandre Bompard, on Wednesday (20) through his social media, about choosing not to sell any beef from the Mercosur region, raised questions about the potential impacts on Brazilian exports.
According to data from the Brazilian Association of Industries, the European Union accounted for only 3.39% of Brazilian beef exports globally. Of the total exports to the EU, France represented just 0.66%, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
The same trend occurred between January and October 2024. According to the Ministry, of the total exports to the European Union, which was 2.79%, France accounted for just 0.53%. Thus, France’s share is not as significant as other regions in the beef export balance.
Additionally, after the announcement, the retail company clarified that the decision applies only to its stores in France. Later, it was further explained that nearly 100% of the meat sold in these units is produced in France — meaning the impact of this measure on exports from South American countries would be small.
Carrefour Brazil also stated to g1 that the measure “does not affect operations in the country,” and that the group’s supermarkets in Brazil will continue to purchase meat from Brazilian slaughterhouses.
When questioned about the amount of beef purchased by the company from Mercosur and Brazil, the retail giant informed that “almost 100% of the beef purchased by Carrefour France is produced in France.”
Below are the top destinations for Brazilian beef in 2023:
- China – 52.22%
- United States – 6.05%
- Hong Kong – 5.20%
- Chile – 4.39%
- European Union – 3.39%
- Egypt – 3.11%
