Halal meat market grows
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Muslim meat market (halal) represents nearly one third of Brazil's beef exports, it was reported at a conference held in Brasilia in June – a four and a half times increase in dollar sales in the last 10 years. The main buyers in 2012 were Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Libya, Angola, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Algeria and Kuwait.
Halal practices demand that animals be healthy at slaughter, that the blood be drained and that the killing be done as humanely as possible. And a Muslim must carry out the process.
According to Halal Focus, an online magazine, the global trade in halal meat has reached US$300 billion and there is no predominately Muslim country in the top 10 exporters. Along with Brazil, the United States, Australia and India have a substantial market share. Pakistan ranks 18th.
Canadian chicken, beef and lamb producers might find embracing halal production to be profitable. A 2005 study in Alberta, updated in 2009, found the average Muslim-Canadian household spends twice as much on meat weekly as does an average Canadian household. Purchasing decisions are based on the certainty that the product is halal; price as a consideration sits third. The study states that "a majority" of Canadian-Muslims would pay a 50-cent-a-pound premium over regular meats; 13 per cent would pay up to $1.50 a pound more. Prior to 2009, 15 per cent of inspected cattle slaughter and 35 per cent of calves in Canada were slaughtered halal. BF