Brazil's chicken exports value up 18%

 

 

Brazil's chicken meat exports totalled US$ 1.9 billion in the first four months of the year, representing growth of 18% compared with the same period of last year, according to reports.

 

A total of 1.158 million tonnes of the product were shipped, a decline of 1.43% using the same basis of comparison. The data were disclosed by the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef) earlier this week.

 

According to a release from the union, the result points to a recovery of prices, which were low, and reflects the appreciation of the US dollar. Comparing the period from January until April with the preceding four-month period (September until December 2009), both revenues and volume have dropped, by 3.6% and 4.2%, respectively.

 

The president of the Ubabef, Francisco Turra, commented: "This is an effect of the crisis in European countries, and a noteworthy fact is that Brazilian poultry exports to the EU have dropped by 15% in the first four months of the year."

 

Middle Eastern countries were the leading destination of the Brazilian product from January to April, with US$661.3 million in exports, representing growth of 26.7%. Shipments totalled 426,300 tonnes, or 1.2% more than in the first quarter of 2009.

 

The second main destination was Asia, with 316,200 tonnes shipped and US$580 million in revenues. Next came the EU, with US$363.4 million in exports. Brazil sold US$162 million to Africa and US$139.6 million to the Americas.