May 13, 2009

 

Brazilian domestic and export sales of pork remain normal despite the outbreak of the Type A/H1N1 flu virus, according to the president of Brazil's Pork Industry Association, or Abipecs.

 

With the virus, there was concern from some countries about whether pork was safe for human consumption.

 

"Despite a lot of worry and a tumultuous period, pork exports remained strong during April and the start of May," Pedro de Camargo Neto told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday (May 12).

 

Brazil exported 17,000 tonnes of pork in May 1-10. And the signs are that Brazil will export around 50,000 tonnes for the full month, he said.

 

Brazil also reported 54,000 tonnes in April, up 10.8 percent compared with a year ago, due to strong buying from Russia, Brazil's No. 1 customer for pork.

 

Brazil's key markets, such as Russia and Hong Kong, remained open to imports. Only small markets, such as Albania and Azerbaijan, were closed, Camargo recalled.

 

He said that sales in the domestic market are mainly processed pork, such as sausages, and there has been no impact due to fears about the flu.

 

Camargo said that Abipecs -- like everybody else -- is worried about a possible resurgence of the flu in the Southern Hemisphere. "The worry still continues," he said.

 

He reiterated, however, the main risk is related to public health. This shouldn't be confused with animal health or the pork industry, he added.

 

Camargo also doesn't expect the flu to have any impact on talks to open Brazilian pork exports to China, a potentially lucrative market.

 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will visit China beginning May 18, and opening pork shipments to China will be on the agenda. Camargo hopes that this bilateral meeting in China will be used to announce the start of Brazilian pork exports direct to China.

 

"China imports some 400,000 tons of pork and we'd like to get 10 percent of this market," he said.