The Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association is going to participate in two events in the emirate in February. One of them is food sector fair Gulf Food and the other is a workshop with business roundtables and barbecues with Brazilian cattle beef with halal certification.

Alexandre Rocha*

So Paulo - The Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec) is going to participate in a food sector fair in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the first time, and is also going to promote a workshop for clients and potential buyers at a hotel in the city. "Dubai was chosen as most of our associates felt that the emirate presented good structure and strategic operating conditions," stated the executive director at the organization, Antonio Jorge Camardelli.

MAUSER expands reconditioning business to Brazil and Benelux

The MAUSER Group, one of the worlds leading companies in industrial packaging, continues its growth strategy by extending its reconditioning business to South America and Europe: In December 2006, MAUSER acquired the majority interest in Tankpool do Brasil and in the beginning of 2007, a joint venture for IBC reconditioning services in Benelux became operative.

Following the acquisition of the industrial packaging business of Metalurgica Barra do Pira in Brazil in October 2006, the companys new subsidiary MAUSER do Brasil announced the acquisition of 51% of the shares of Tankpool do Brasil. Tankpool plays a major role in the collection and recycling of used IBC in Brazil and will now offer its services in combination with MAUSER do Brasil. With this complementary service, MAUSER do Brasil becomes the leading company in South America offering the entire value chain of industrial packaging.

COMMODITIES ROUNDUP: Soybeans

While the wide swings in energy prices dominated headlines for much of 2006, the grain complex has quietly established its most impressive bull market in a decade. And while wheat gained from crop problems in a variety of producing nations, corn prices have spiked primarily as a result of ethanol production finally ramping up in the US. With US ethanol production widely expected to increase in 2007, specs and funds alike have continued to buy corn, driving up prices in anticipation of steadily building demand eating away at available supply.

Soybeans have experienced what many feel is a sympathy rally with corn. While soybean oil is a component in bio-diesel fuel, it is ethanol that seems to be getting the media attention and new production facilities.

The ethanol story, however, is one with many questions yet to be answered.

Stamm regains speed up Atlantic

Velux 5-Ocean Race leader Bernard Stamm on Cheminees Poujoulat is now on his way back up the Atlantic on the home straight towards Norfolk, USA. He rounded Cape Horn last week and, this morning, he's 900 miles east of Buenos Aires.Despite his sound 1,700-mile lead on the second leg of the race, Stamm has been under a fair amount of pressure over the last few days trying to avoid a massive high out to the east. But with a depression currently forming off the coast of Brazil, forcing the high-pressure zone south-east, Stamm is once again able to benefit from the increasing southerly breeze. He's hoping to retain this possibly all the way up to Recife - the easternmost part of Brazil.Japan's Kojiro Shiraishi on board second placed Spirit of Yukoh has benefited from Stamm's relatively slow going over the last few days gaining 40 miles.

Brazil Economy on Verge of Surge

Brasilia, Jan 22 (Prensa Latina) President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announces Monday the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), which has generated great expectations among Brazilians.

According to reports, available resources for public and private investments in energy must surpass more than 107 billion dollars by 2010.