December 6, 2012

 

Chile sees 5% rise for meat output in Jan-Sep 2012

 

 

Chile's meat production has increased in the January-September period of 2012.

 

However, exports have fluctuated with exports of beef down on last year but pork exports up.

 

Meat production increased 5% between January and September on the same period for 2011 reaching a total of 149,215 tonnes. September showed a slight decrease (-1.2%) due to the long Independence Day holiday.

 

While pork production recorded an increase of 9.4% over the period from January to September 2011 and reached 433,988 tonnes in September, declined by 20.8% compared to August of this year. Normally, there is a low between August and September, but this year, the decline is more evident and may be partly explained by the largest number of September holidays.

 

Poultry meat recorded an increase of 4.3% over the first nine months of 2011. Broilers rose 3.4% consisting of 83% of poultry meat production.

 

As in the production of other meats, poultry volumes in September also saw a sharp decrease compared to the month of August.

 

In terms of cattle market sales, the most common livestock sale was young bulls. Up to October, fat steers continued with the national rise in the nominal price records which began in the June and reached US$ 1.178 per kilogramme by the start of October(after a fall that left the average monthly US$1.033 per kilogramme).

 

The number of steers slaughtered rose 9.6% compared to January-September period, 2011 which is attributed to the increase in the national cattle herd. Moreover, the breeding stock slaughter continues in low volumes similar to those recorded in 2011, indicating that the national bovine mass could continue to grow in the coming year.

 

Steers sold for backgrounding (stores) followed a similar price increase until September when the price fell away into October slightly by 2.6%, reaching US$1.041 per kilogramme. At this time in October, pork producers recorded a drop of 7.4% from September.

 

Meanwhile, the prices of poultry meat have remained relatively stable. The price of a kilogramme of chicken registered at 0.7% increase the period from January to October, 2011, on the contrary, live chickens to record producer a slight decline of 2.1% in the same period.

 

Beef imports up until month of October 2012 grew by 3.9%, reaching a total of 105,856 tonnes of imported meat. The main countries supplying meat to Chile are Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay and the US.

 

This participation could change later this year, because the market between Chile and Paraguay has been reopened for beef. Pork also records an increase, in this case 10.7 %, compared to 2011, reaching a total of 14,228 tonnes.

 

Beef exports have taken a downward trend during 2012. October saw a reduction of 51.1% over the same period of 2011.

 

By contrast, exports of pork still increased due to the amount of money invested in production. This money was intended to increase exports. Increased exports of pork registered for the period from January to October was 34.1% over the same period in 2011.

 

Finally, exports of poultry recorded a rise of 4.3% to October 2012, reaching a total of 83,760 tonnes. Main poultry destinations were China, Mexico and the US.