Lula to meat exporters in Japan: we are here to open doors

After being officially welcomed by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated on Tuesday, March 25, in a meeting with Brazilian businesspeople connected to the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (Associação Brasileira das Indústrias Exportadoras de Carne/ABIEC). On the agenda was the effort to open the Japanese market to Brazilian exports. At the end of the meeting, attended by a significant part of the Brazilian delegation, ministers Carlos Fávaro (Agriculture and Livestock), Renan Filho (Transport), and Silvio Costa Filho (Ports and Airports) spoke to journalists.

We will discuss many topics, and I hope we can convince Japan of the great things Brazil has to offer for trade. I intend to bring entrepreneurs on every trip, people who can sell. The president's role is opening the door, but it is you who know how to do business"

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during a meeting with businesspeople from the meat export sector

"We will discuss many subjects here, and I hope we can convince Japan of the good things Brazil has to offer for trade. I am interested in bringing businesspeople, congress members and those who can sell on all my trips. The president’s role is opening the door, but it is you —not the president or the congress members— who know how to do business," said Lula, addressing the ABIEC representatives.

The president recalled that, in 2011, the trade flow between Brazil and Japan reached 17 billion dollars. Today, it stands at around 11 billion. "This means that, right away, we have six billion to recover during this visit," stated Lula. "Obviously, international trade is a two-way street. We have to sell, and we also have to buy."

ETHANOL – Lula announced that the mission also aims to expand business with Japan in strategic sectors such as aerospace and energy transition. “We are witnessing the growth of the energy transition with green hydrogen and clean energy, and Brazil is making significant strides in ethanol production. We are considering increasing the blend to 30% in both gasoline and biodiesel, and we will discuss this with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. If Japan adopts a 10% ethanol blend in gasoline, it would be an extraordinary leap — not only for our exports but also for the potential to produce ethanol in Brazil,” emphasized President Lula. He also noted that a meeting with hundreds of businesspeople from both countries is scheduled for Wednesday.

"It is not just that we want to sell. If there are Japanese businesspeople who want to invest in Brazil, in all regions, they can help us effectively change the energy matrix. I believe that Brazil can play a decisive role in helping the world reduce the use of fossil fuels and begin to introduce cleaner trade so that we can gain credibility as the country with the most low-carbon production", he continued.

EXPANSION – According to Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, the meeting with ABIEC aims to advance the opening of the Japanese market, particularly for Brazilian beef. "Our industries are ready to meet Japan's sanitary and commercial requirements. The adjustment in poultry sanitary protocols and the recognition of more Brazilian states as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination also expand opportunities for pork, which is crucial given Brazil's competitiveness," Fávaro emphasized. He noted that negotiations to export Brazilian beef to Japan have been ongoing for over 20 years. "The latest protocol has been under discussion for five years. We will work to ensure it moves forward, opening this important market. This will boost competitiveness for our entrepreneurs, expand Brazilian beef’s global presence, and enhance competition in the domestic market," the minister added.

Our industries are capable of meeting the sanitary and commercial requirements set by Japan. The last protocol has been under discussion for five years. We will work to ensure that it now progresses toward finalization and the opening of this important market”

Carlos Fávaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

FOOD SECURITY – Fávaro highlighted that over the past two years, Brazil has opened 344 new markets worldwide for its agribusiness products, and efforts to expand continue actively. “This is an all-time record, demonstrating that Brazil has become a key player in global food security. In any food or sanitary crisis, Brazil can serve as a reliable supplier for countries around the world.”

NO AVIAN FLU – Carlos Fávaro also highlighted Brazil's efforts to prevent the spread of avian flu. “While avian flu has reached every continent, Brazil remains one of the few countries free of the disease in its commercial poultry farms, ensuring the supply of nearly 40% of the world's chicken meat with quality, safety, and competitive prices.”

LOGISTICS – According to Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Renan Filho, one of the key factors for the expansion of the country’s export capacity is strengthening its logistics infrastructure. "We, the ministers in the infrastructure sector, are here to say that all this transformation in the production sector needs the logistical conditions to export. And the big question is: does Brazil have these conditions or not? Of course, we do! We export much more cheaply than other countries. While Brazil's cost to produce a calf and export it is USD 55, the United States has a cost of over USD 100," Renan Filho pointed out. "If it is important to export energy and minerals, just imagine those who have the capacity to export what people eat. And this is Brazil's strength beyond all others: an environmental power, a solid democracy, internationally recognized," concluded the minister.

EXPORT LOGISTICS – Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, cited examples that indicate that strengthening national infrastructure impacts export capacity. “In the 1980s and 1990s, Brazil had nearly 50% of its production flow through the Port of Santos. Today, we are around 30%, and we want to reduce it further so that we can expand logistics into the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions, enabling us to implement a large national production flow plan for the country.”

PORT GROWTH – The minister also mentioned advancements in the port sector. “In 2024, we saw a 5% growth. The container sector recorded the highest movement volume in history, with a nearly 18% increase. We are expanding investments to ensure the best production flow, which includes railways, roads, waterways, and ports, to provide structural conditions for these new markets,” he highlighted.

CONFIDENCE – Speaking on behalf of the producers, businessperson Renato Costa expressed confidence in the outcome of the work done by the Federal Government during this trip. “Japan is an important market, the third-largest importer. I believe this is good for the industry, for the producers, and for the country. We are indeed very confident,” he concluded.