January 14, 2009
Brazil '08 chicken exports up 11 percent to 3.6 million tonnes
Brazilian chicken exports hit a record 3.6 million tonnes in 2008, up 11 percent from 2007, said Brazil's Chicken Exporters Association or ABEF on Tuesday (January 13).
Revenues from Brazilian chicken exports soared 40 percent to US$6.9 billion in 2008 compared to 2007, ABEF said in a press release.
The Middle East accounted for 1.1 million tonnes of exports in 2008, up 13 percent compared to 2007.
Brazil exported 267,000 tonnes of chicken in December down 11 percent compared to the same month a year ago, said ABEF.
Brazil's chicken export revenues were US$427 million in December.
ABEF said that Brazilian chicken exports should rise 5 percent in 2009 versus 2008, despite the global economic crisis.
ABEF plans to target new markets such as Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jamaica, and the Philippines, as well as African countries such as Senegal and Angola.
China and India opened their markets to Brazilian chicken exports in 2008, said ABEF.
Brazil is the world's No.1 chicken exporter.
