Colombian meat consumption in China has skyrocketed, with sales up 40%.

CHINA has established itself as a major destination for Colombian MEAT. In the first four months of this year, the Brazilian company Minerva, through its subsidiary Red Cárnica, exported 5,259 tons of frozen meat, representing a contribution of US $23.8 million . This figure represents nearly 39%, in both quantity and value, of Colombia's total meat exports during the same period, which amounted to 13,162 tons, valued at US$61.4 million.

Minerva Foods is the leading exporter of processed beef in South America, supplying products to over 100 countries. In Colombia, exports are handled through Red Cárnica, which operates two plants located in Bucaramanga and Ciénaga de Oro, the only ones authorized to EXPORT to the Chinese market.

Besides China , Algeria was the second-largest market for Colombian beef, importing 2,746 tons worth US$14.8 million. it was followed by RUSSIA, which purchased 3,014 tons worth US$12.4 million; El Salvador, which purchased 669 tons worth US$3.6 million; Chile, which purchased 408 tons worth US$2.4 million; and Lebanon, which purchased 168 tons worth US$1 million.

Besides Minerva (Red Cárnica), other Colombian companies exporting frozen meat include Frigolanta, part of the Colanta group, based in Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia, which has a Halal certificate from the Istanbul Mosque in Bogotá for slaughter, a mandatory requirement for the export of frozen meat cuts; Frigorífico Río Frío (now Colbeef since 2019), which exports its products to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, particularly Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, having plants authorized for these markets; and Ganadería Manzanares, headquartered in Floridablanca, Santander, and owned by the business group of Francisco Serrano Serrano, founder of Distriaves.

In a separate category, frozen offal and by-product exports totaled 2,440 tons in the first four months of the year, valued at $6.2 million. Vietnam is the leading buyer, purchasing almost 50% of the total volume in US dollars ($3 million for 449 tons). Hong Kong follows, purchasing 305 tons for $1.2 million, and Russia, importing 762 tons for $1.1 million. Red Cárnica is the company that exports the most offal and by-products.

How are things going with the export of live animals?

In terms of live animal exports, 126,940 HEAD of cattle were exported , valued at US$94.4 million. The main purchasing countries were Egypt, with 47,372 head of cattle, valued at US$35.6 million; Iraq, which purchased 37,561 head of cattle, valued at US$28.7 million; Saudi Arabia , which purchased 38,961 head of cattle, valued at US$27.7 million; and Jordan, which purchased 3,046 head of cattle, valued at US$2.3 million.

Companies involved in the export of live animals include Expoganados, headed by Miguel Roberto Dulce; Inversiones Bonanza, founded by cattle ranchers from Córdoba and Bolivar, whose president is Juan Camilo Ramos; and Frontera Vacana, controlled by the holding company Netex Colombia, whose main shareholder is María Paula Orozco.