March 12, 2009
Brazil chicken exports drop 5.2 percent in Jan-Feb on-year
Brazilian chicken exports fell 5.2 percent to 538,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2009 compared to the same period a year ago, Brazil's Chicken Exporters Association, or Abef, said Wednesday (Mar 11).
Abef said that revenue fell 28.2 percent to US$710 million in January and February.
The largest volume of chicken exports was to the Middle East, which saw 175,000 tonnes shipped in January and February. This was 4-percent lower than the same period a year ago.
The association said that the early signs in March indicate that chicken prices for exports are slowly starting to improve.
Brazil's chicken exports hit a record 3.6 million tonnes in 2008, up 11 percent from 2007.
Abef expects growth of 5 percent in volumes in 2009 compared to 2008.
Brazil is the world's No.1 chicken exporter.
