February 5, 2009

Brazilian pork exporters expect to target new markets such as Japan in 2009, said the president of Brazil's Pork Industry Association, or Abipecs, on Wednesday (February 4).

 

Abipecs also expect to start pork exports to markets such as China, the European Union, and the US in 2009, which should help to offset recent falls in exports to countries such as Russia, the No. 1 importer of Brazilian pork.

 

Brazilian pork could start being imported by Japan in the second half of 2009, said Pedro de Camargo Neto.

 

This could lead to Brazil capturing 10 percent of the market per year for four years, he said. Japan is one of the world's largest importers of pork.

 

Abipecs estimated that Japan could account for some 50,000 heads of pork exports in 2010 alone.

 

Camargo said Brazil has been negotiating for two years to gain access to the Japanese market.

 

"There's a very good probably of an agreement this year," he said.

 

Abipecs also expects that, for instance, the US market should open its doors to pork from Brazil this year, but the volumes will be small, he said, without giving details.

 

The main barrier to entering new markets is health issues, mainly foot-and-mouth concerns, said Camargo.

 

Brazil's state of Santa Catarina, the No. 1 pig producing state, last week was authorised to start pork exports to Chile.

 

Camargo estimated that Russian pork imports from Brazil should hover around 260,000 tonnes in 2009. He warned, however, that the Russian quota system and the credit crisis could lead to a downturn in exports.

 

Brazilian pork exports worldwide fell to 26,000 tonnes in December compared to earlier peaks in 2008 of around 50,000 tonnes per month.

 

Brazilian pork exports rose to 34,000 tonnes of pork in January, but in this short period it isn't clear whether exports this will continue over a longer period, said Camargo.

 

Brazil is the world's No.1 exporter of pork.