September 25, 2006

 

Brazil's poultry exports enjoying strong growth in Egypt

 

 

Judging by the rapid pace of developments, Brazilian poultry producers may yet win a larger share of the Egyptian market, president at Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef), Ricardo Gonçalves said.

 

Brazil has exported 21,000 tonnes of poultry to Egypt since the government allowed imports in July due to a shortage in the country.

 

The opening of the Egyptian market has generated great interest in Brazil's poultry industry, Goncalves said, adding that the level of interest was such that strong export levels were seen just one month after the markets were opened.

 

From August to mid September, shipment has totalled at least 21,530 tonnes of the product.

 

Even though the Egyptian government has specified only a period of six months for allowing poultry imports, Brazil is confident it would be able to continue exporting to the country after that.

 

Asia remains Brazil's top market for poultry for the first eight months of the year, with shipments totaling 500,000 tonnes, followed by the Middle East and Europe at 450,000 tonnes and 355,000 tonnes respectively.

 

Brazil shipped nearly 300,000 tonnes of chickens last month, a 12.7 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

 

However, revenue derived from the sale only increase 0.42 percent to US$339.3 million.

 

According to Gonçalves, August was the best month of the year for Brazilian exports of the product, thanks to growth in the Middle East market.

 

August shipments to the Middle East increased 155 percent compared to July as importers stocked up before Ramadan, the one-month religious period starting from late September. 

 

Brazilian poultry exports worldwide has suffered an 8-percent drop in the first eight months of the year when compared to last year. This reduction reflected the effects of bird flu in many regions early this year.