July 20, 2010

Brazil's chicken exports stable in H1

Chicken exports from Brazil remained steady in the first half of this year compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Brazilian chicken exporters association, or Ubabef.

Brazil - the world's No. 1 chicken exporter - saw chicken exports reach 1.80 million metric tonnes in January-June 2010, largely unchanged compared to the same period last year, Ubabef said in a press release.

Revenue, however, rose 15% to US$3.1 billion in January-June, compared to the same period last year, the association said.

Although volume remained practically stable and revenue rose, the fall in the dollar against the Brazilian real continues to hamper Brazil's chicken exports, Ubabef's president Francisco Turra said.

Ubabef said the Middle East was the largest importer of Brazilian chickens in the period, accounting for 661,500 tonnes, up 0.5% compared to the same period last year. Asia was in second place with 493,200 tonnes.

Brazil's southern state of Parana was the largest exporter. Parana accounted for 477,300 tonnes of chicken in the six-month period. Santa Catarina state with 476,100 tonnes of chicken exports was in second place, according to Ubabef.