Beatriz Pasqualino and Lúcia Nórcio
Reporters - Agência Brasil

São Paulo – In spite of the fact that 56 countries maintain restrictions on imports of Brazilian beef due to reports of isolated cases of foot and mouth disease in two Brazilian states, exports were up 3% in volume and over 12.5% in revenue in February, compared to February 2005. Russia and Egypt are the biggest buyers.

According to the beef exporters association (Abiec), Brazil remains the world's biggest beef exporter. In 2005, total revenue from beef exports reached US$3.15 billion.

Meanwhile, in the state of Paraná, on Friday, March 10, a total of 84 more cattle were slaughtered as authorities continue efforts to contain foot and mouth disease. Samples of the animals will be sent to the Pan American Center for Animal Disease for examinations.

Translation: Allen Bennett