January 14, 2009
Brazil pork exports fell to 529,410 tonnes in 2008
Brazilian pork exports were 529,410 tonnes in 2008 compared to 606,510 tonnes in 2007, said Brazil's Pork Industry Association or Abipecs in a press release Tuesday (January 13).
The decline in export volumes was due to the strength of domestic consumption as well as a slowing of exports late in 2008, according to Abipecs.
"The international financial crisis had a strong impact on important markets," said Pedro de Camargo Neto, president of Abipecs.
For example, Brazilian exports to Russia fell to 11,850 tonnes in December from 36,620 tonnes in the same month of 2007. Russia is Brazil's No. 1 customer for pork.
Overall, Brazilian pork exports in December fell to 31,000 tonnes compared to 63,000 in the same month in 2007, Abipecs said.
Despite the drop in volume of pork exports in 2008, Brazil generated a record US$1.4 billion in exports for the year, up 20 percent from 2007. The jump was due to high international prices, said Abipecs.
Brazil is the world's No. 1 exporter of pork.
