During the first four months of 2021, companies operating in Costa Rica sold $22 million worth of beef to China, this figure represents 54% of the total exported by the Central American country.
Data from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) show that from January to April of this year, Costa Rican beef exports to China totaled $22 million, to the U.S. $8 million and to Puerto Rico $5 million.
During the first quarter of the year in Costa Rica 99,662 cattle were slaughtered, 4% more than reported in the same period in 2019, which is largely explained by shipments to the market in China.
Although the spread of covid-19 has negatively impacted most economic sectors worldwide, data from the Livestock Corporation (Corfoga) detail that between January and March 2019 and the same period of 2020, the number of cattle slaughtered increased by 3981, from 95681 to 99662.
After the first case of paralytic rabies in cattle was confirmed in Coto Brus, the authorities decided to quarantine the farm that houses 110 cattle.
Because the National Animal Health Service (Senasa) confirmed the death of a cattle that was affected by this disease, the movement of any cattle from the farm located in Puntarenas province was prohibited.
After the sanitary protocol to sell meat to China came into effect and the industrial plants in Costa Rica were certified, the Central American country's sales to the Asian giant doubled between 2018 and 2019.
Figures from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) show that in 2018 beef sales to China reached $22 million, while in 2019 they doubled to $57 million.
Following an outbreak of paralytic rabies in Veraguas province, local authorities reported that a cordon sanitaire was established to prevent the spread of the disease.
Representatives of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) explained that the quarantined area is equivalent to a 10-km radius from the reported outbreak in Mariato district.
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of cattle rose from 1.49 million to 1.58 million, an increase of 5%.
The National Agricultural Survey (ENA) prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, specifies that of the total number of cattle counted in 2018, 61.8% corresponds to meat production, 15.8% was allocated to milk production, 22.2% dual purpose and finally, working animals represent 0.2%.
The regional guild of the sector reported that the volume of milk produced by the countries of the region increased from 3.5 to 3.7 million metric tons between 2015 and 2016.
According to figures from the Central American guilds, the increase in global production registered in 2016, when the most updated statistics exist as a region, is explained by increases reported in all countries, mainly from Costa Rica with 18%, followed by El Salvador with 14%, Guatemala with 13%, Panama with 6%, and Honduras with 4%.
In Costa Rica, producers of buffalo, rabbit and lamb meat sell their products through restaurants and some supermarkets, in response to growth in consumption which has been noted in recent years.
The sophistication of consumption, hand in hand with a greater diversification in the gastronomic supply at restaurants has been pushing up demand for nontraditional meats, such as rabbit, buffalo and lamb.
The requirements for sanitation and traceability are preventing the livestock sector from taking advantage of quotas for meat exports duty free to Europe.
Although the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union established a quota of 4,800 tonnes per year of rice and a quota of 1,533 tonnes per year of meat, which could enter Europe without incurring tariffs, neither sector has been able to take advantage of them completely.
Between 2012 and 2016 imports of beef in the country doubled, going from $24 million to $50 million, while in the same period local cattle slaughter fell by 17%.
Figures from the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA) indicate that consumption of imported beef has grown steadily in recent years. In 2010 the country imported 4,731 tons, while in 2016 the figure was 9,406 tons.
Sanitary and quarantine measures have been implemented on the farm where the outbreak was detected in the province of Alajuela.
The Ministry of Agriculture has provided for the implementation of sanitary and quarantine measures to control the disease on the farm where the outbreak was detected in San Jose de Upala, and prevent its spread to other areas.
The National Animal Health Service has identified an outbreak in a cattle farm in Puriscal, Province of San Jose, where it has established sanitary and quarantine measures.
From a statement issued by the National Animal Health Service (SENASA):
The National Animal Health Service (SENASA), at the Ministry of Agriculture, has detected an outbreak of bovine paralytic rabies in a farm located in Puriscal, in the district of Mercedes Sur, specifically in the village Quebrada Honda, in the Province of San Jose, where a bovine has died.
Dual-purpose farms with less than 25 cattle for meat production are exempt from paying for the veterinary certificate.
From a press release by the Ministry of Agriculture of Costa Rica (MAG):
Under the commission comprising of officials from the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives from the productive sector, to analyze and improve the regulations currently governing the interests of the sector, a series of agreements have been made to be implemented through guidelines and SENASA Resolutions.
Chicken meat imports in Costa Rica had a growth of 57% in 2012 over the previous year, while beef only grew 46%.
From the report:
In 2012 the country imported $48.3 million worth, an increase of 28% compared to the previous year.
Imports of frozen bovine meat recorded the highest increase in monetary terms, with imports in 2012 having increased by more than $4.4 million compared with the previous year, going from $9.6 million in 2011 to approximately $14 million in 2012.
Farmers in Colombia and Chile have been certified as eligible to export beef to China, after the lifting of foot and mouth disease restriction on Colombians and the signing of a protocol with the Chileans.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
After a memorandum of understanding lifted the foot and mouth disease restrictions for the export of Colombian beef Colombian farmers are now allowed to export this product to China. Similarly, in Chile, the Agriculture Minister Luis Mayol, said in Beijing that the final protocol which establishes the conditions under which the meat will go to China had already been signed, therefore these products are expected to start to enter this market in August 2013 at the latest.