July 15, 2008

Value of Brazil's chicken exports rises 58 percent to hit US$3.4 billion in H1

Higher chicken prices have made up for a decline of the US dollar, causing chicken export revenue to rise by 58 percent to US$3.4 billion when compared to the first half of 2007, the Chicken Exporters Association, ABEF, said Monday (July 14, 2008).

During the six-month period, export volume rose by 19 percent to 1.8 million tonnes,

Emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East remain Brazil's leading market, with Middle East chicken importers buying 559,000 tonnes of Brazilian chicken in the first six months of the year, up 21 percent from 2007 volume.

Asian imports of Brazilian chicken meat rose 17 percent to 454,000 tonnes over the six-month period, according to ABEF.

The value of Brazil's chicken exports have been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years.

Brazil's chicken export volumes in 2007 rose 20 percent to 3.3 million tonnes. The value of the shipments were worth US$4.9 billion, up 55 percent from 2006.  

In June, Brazil exported 330,000 tonnes of chicken, 27 percent more than the same month last year, while revenue shot up 66 percent to US$652 million due to higher chicken prices.

Whole bird exports rose by 46 percent to 124,000 tonnes.