March 26, 2007

Argentina's poultry meat exports rise 6 percent

Argentina exported US$23.06 million worth of fresh and processed poultry meat and by-products in the first two months of the year, up 6 percent on-year, Argentine food quality and safety authority SENASA said last week.

Almost 65 percent, or US$15 million of the exports, were fresh poultry meat, a 1-percent inrease over the same period last year. These included whole poultry, breasts and thighs with a combined total weight of 12,213 tonnes.

Chile, which imported 4,040 tonnes, was the largest poultry meat importer, followed by South Africa and Congo, each with slightly more than 1,000 tonnes.

The exports of poultry by-products increased 9 percent to 7,058 tonnes and rose 19 percent to US$6 million, with the main importers being China with 3,054 tonnes and Hong Kong with 2,328 tonnes.

Meanwhile, processed chicken meat exports rose by 13 percent to 683 tonnes and by 16 percent in value to US$2 million. Germany was the major importer of Argentine processed chicken meat.