Brazil to export pork to South Korea

In a statement made yesterday (May 17), Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply Blairo Maggi announced the opening of the South Korean market to Brazilian pork. Sales are expected to add up to over 30 thousand tons a year.

At first, only four Santa Catarina–based meatpacking plants are to have the credentials to sell the good to South Koreans, said Maggi, on an official trip in China. Other firms are likely to follow suit later on.

Talks with South Korea on the export of pork started late in 2016. A number of technical missions were sent over by the South Koreans before the decision became effective. The last one was conducted in April.

South Korea is the world’s third biggest importer of pork, after Japan and China. According to official data, Santa Catarina, in south Brazil, is the country’s top exporting state. In 2017, Brazil’s fresh pork exports totaled $1.47 billion, or 592.6 thousand tons—40.5% of which from Santa Catarina.

The Brazilian minister is expected to fly to Paris Saturday (19), where he is to receive a certification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) attesting Brazil as free from foot-and-mouth disease through vaccination.