The Fars news agency said Iran’s new role as Brazil’s biggest beef buyer “strengthens the two countries ties.”
It reported that official Brazilian statistics showed that in August Iran bought $61.7 million worth of Brazilian beef, eclipsing Russia to become the largest beef market for Brazil, which is the world’s largest exporter of beef.
Deep in the story, Fars reported that Iran passed Russia as Brazil’s main beef customer because Russia had banned imports from 85 beef plants in June after complaining of poor health standards.
Fars said Brazilian beef sales to Iran had expanded 300-fold over the past decade.
It quoted Fernando Sam-paio, executive director of the Association of Brazilian Beef Exporters, as saying, “Iran is a particularly good market for Brazil because it buys the most expensive cuts. It also always pays on time.”
