Brazilian beef exports have hit record levels in the first half of 2013, according to international media reports citing data from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.

Figures released by the ministry show that beef shipments from Brazil rose by 22.1pc to 679,000 tonnes compared to a year earlier, while export values were 14.6pc higher than the previous year.

The biggest growth was recorded in exports to Hong Kong, Algeria and Iran.

If that rate of exports is maintained in the second half of 2013, Brazil will be on track to export 1.35m tonnes for the year.

Brazil shipped around 1.3m tonnes of beef in 2012, ranking it as the third largest exporter of bovine meat products last year.

India took first position, with exports of 1.5 million tonnes of predominantly buffalo meat in 2012, followed by Australia with 1.4mt. The United States ranked as the fourth largest beef exporter in 2013 with shipments of 1.2 million tonnes.

All of the major beef exporting nations are expected to increase both production and exports over the next decade, according to Meat & Livestock Australia.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply’s recently released Long Term Outlook report predicts that total Brazilian beef production will increase by 22.5pc in the next 10 years to reach 10.9 million tonnes by 2022, while its exports are forecast to increase by 29pc over the same period to 1.88 million tonnes.

While exports from India are set to ease to 1.4m tonnes this year, the recent OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2013 – 2022 report predicts that Indian beef production will grow from 3.43mt this year to 4.16mt in 2022, and its exports will rise to 1.64mt over the same period.

Australian production is forecast to increase by 8pc to 2.4mt in 2022, while exports are expected to increase 6pc, to 1.59mt.

Production in the US is projected to increase by 9pc to 11.52mt in 2022, with exports anticipated to reach 1.57mt.