February 3, 2004

Philippines, Brazil Eye Japanese Poultry Market

Brazil and the Philippines are eyeing the lucrative Japanese poultry market after Japan suspended chicken imports from major poultry producers such as Thailand and China.

Swift Foods Inc., a major Philippine food producer that is part of the Concepcion group, is launching an export offensive on Japan. Other Philippine firms -- including San Miguel Foods Inc., a subsidiary of the major beer producer -- have also set their sights on the Japanese poultry market.

Philippine producers are cooperating with the Philippine government to use the safety of their products to woo the Japanese market and recently held a joint news conference with Philippine Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo in attendance.

Masao Tadano - an agricultural official for Brazil, the second-largest exporter of poultry to the Japanese market - recently said his nation is prepared to increase exports to Japan.