Summary of the IMS Workshop held in Wageningen April 2009
By Leonardo Prandini, CB&C Ltd Associate
Following a historical period of record prices and sharp expansion in the agribusiness sector, meat supply chain members remain in relatively strong position to face the economic turmoil, thanks to firmness of demand for its non-replaceable end product and export potential to meet local supply imbalances. In this context, the meat sector relies on trade to reach the global food needs and deliver sales. The current reduced capital accessibility and increased credit requirements limit the fast recovery of international meat trade flows.Despite major worldwide price decline since October 2008, the general 30% currency exchange rate devaluation in the main meat exporting countries in the same period (Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay) underpinned supportive values for local producers at profitable levels.