Middle East is top region for Brazilian chicken exports

The Middle East is the leading region for Brazilian poultry exports, as markets in the region absorbed 26 percent of total shipments from January to April.

Arab nations took five places in a list of 10 largest buyers. Saudi Arabia ranks second, the United Arab Emirates fifth, Kuwait at seventh, Iraq at ninth and Yemen at tenth. Top importer during the period was Hong Kong.

Asia comes in second with 24 percent, followed by the EU at 14 percent, Africa at eight percent, South America at six percent and Russia at two percent. Other destinations accounted for 10 percent of sales, according to the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef).

Brazilian chicken exports in the first four months of 2009 totalled 1.74 million tonnes, with a value of US$1.69 billion. Shipments in April reached nearly 330,000 tonnes, with revenues of nearly US$480 million.