URUGUAY.
LIVE SHIPPING TRADE.
The live shipping trade began again this year between Uruguay and Egypt, after several years of a ban imposed by Egypt, due to concerns over foot-and-mouth-disease.From Montevideo in October the first a large livestock vessel from the Fernes Shipping Line, loaded 12,000 yearling weaner calves and 40,000 wethers.
The government of Egypt, had veterinarian inspectors in Uruguay for several spot checks, investigating farms and checking tracability, the all clear came through in October for the first shipment.
The sheep were for immediate Halal slaughter, the cattle went into feed lots for finishing.
The value of the total consignment was US$8 million, this first load was monitored for condition on arrival, as Uruguay faces stiff competition from the Australian livestock shipping companies.
Uruguay has no problems supplying the cattle, however sheep in sufficient quantities would be difficult, as unlike Australia there are not the large numbers of wethers in the country.
Egypt has been a valuable customer to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, for beef for many years.
With the updating of sanitary agreement conditions and new bilateral agreements, the business is now off to a new start, and plenty of shipments anticipated for 2009.
