Brazilian pork export revenue grows 15%; volume falls

Brazil's pork revenue reached US$118 million in May, 15% more than a year before; while export volume fell 11%, to 46,028 tonnes.

In the comparison between January-May 2010 and a year earlier, export revenue rose 13%, to US$544 million, while volume fell 7%.

According to the Brazilian Association of Pork Farmers and Exporters (ABIPECS), the reduction in volume was due to a drop in exports to Russia, Brazil's biggest pork buyer.

In the year ended May 2010, export volume rose to 589,676 tonnes from 551,032 tonnes, while revenue fell to US$1.29 billion from US$1.40 billion.

ABIPECS' president Pedro de Camargo Neto is optimistic about this year, especially in view of the prospect of Brazil exporting to Mexico - the world's fourth largest pork importer. A Mexican animal health delegation is visiting Brazil this week to inspect pork and poultry farms and slaughter plants.

Brazil is currently negotiating the opening of six markets to pork exports: US, the EU, China, Japan, South Korea and Mexico.