Brazil Meat Exports Plunge 99.9% as More Countries Add Curbs

  • Exports totaled $74,000 Tuesday; daily average is $63 million
  • List of countries that halted imports includes top buyers

Meat hangs on display for sale at a butchery stall in Sao Paulo, on March 17.

Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg
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The so-called Weak Flesh probe launched March 17 by Brazilian police into the alleged bribing of federal inspection agents to clear the sale and export adulterated meat has taken a toll on the world’s largest exporter of beef and chicken.

As companies and the government scramble to contain the damage, several top foreign buyers announced suspensions and increased inspections. Exports plungedBloomberg Terminal to just $74,000 on Tuesday, compared with the daily average of $63 million, according to Brazil’s Trade Ministry, a drop of 99.9 percent.