August 16, 2007

  

Brazil's Jan-July chicken exports up 28 percent on-year to 1.8 million tonnes

 

 

Brazilian chicken exports in the first seven months of 2007 jumped to over 1.827 million tonnes, up 28 percent from the 1.427 million tonnes from the year-ago period, said the country's Association of Chicken Producers and Exporters, or ABEF, on Wednesday.

 

This year may bring an all-time record for the chicken export industry, with estimated exports of 3 million metric tonnes and export revenues of US$4 billion, ABEF interim president Christian Lohbauer said during a press conference held in Sao Paulo.

 

The strong demand from the European Union and the Asian markets pushed export figures. In these markets ABEF sees an end of the food panic caused by last year's bird flue cases.

 

Meanwhile, the increased beef and pig prices also strengthened the chicken market's performance, ABEF said.

 

Exports in July alone hit 284,002 tonnes, up 53 percent over the same month in 2006.

 

Chicken export revenue in July summed US$440 million, up 106 percent over the July 2006 figures. Revenues for the first seven months of 2007 totalled US$2.584 billion, up 54.63 percent over January to July 2006' US$1.671 billion.

 

Exports to the Middle East - which accounts for 31 percent of Brazil's overseas chicken market - jumped 61.48 percent in the first seven months, compared to the same year-ago period, and reached 549,978 tonnes.

 

During the same period, export revenues were up 87 percent, compared to 2006, and totalled US$692 million.

 

Meanwhile, European Union buyers bought 318,012 tonnes of chicken from January to July this year, up 54.95 percent from the year-ago period. Exports to the EU represent 17 percent of Brazil's total chicken exports.

 

Revenues were US$689 million, up 87 percent over the same period in 2006.

 

Asian countries purchased 459,226 tonnes from January to July, up 6.51 percent from the same year-ago period. One fourth of all chicken exports go to this market, representing revenues of US$637 million, a 20 percent increase over the same 2006 period.

 

However, Brazilian chicken exports to Russia, Africa, and South America continued to drop. Exports to Russia represent now 6 percent of Brazil's total chicken exports, down from 8 percent in the same period in 2006. Africa accounts for 7 percent of total exports in 2007, after 10 percent in the first seven months of 2006. And South America went down from 7 percent during January to July 2006 to 5 percent now.

 

Russia bought 109,363 tonnes of chicken or 6.93 percent less than during the same year-ago period, while Africa bought 130,975 tonnes, down 9.28 percent from January to July 2006. Meanwhile, exports to South America were 1.5 percent down, reaching 95,296 tonnes accumulated from January to July 2007.

 

Exports of chicken cuts in July alone rose to 154,059 tonnes, up 30 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

 

Meanwhile, purchases of whole chickens also grew to 660,895 tonnes from January to July, up 40.21 percent from the 471,377 tonnes registered in the same period in 2006.

 

In July, whole chicken exports hit 104,625 tonnes, up 76 percent from export figures in the same month a year ago.

 

Brazil is the world's leading chicken exporter by volume.