July 20, 2012

 

Argentina's poultry industry achieves record production

Argentina's Industry Minister, Debora Giorgi said that the country is on progress to become the fourth largest poultry meat producer.

 

According to the Industrial Strategic Plan 2020, the sector achieved in less than a decade exports of 600,000 tonnes per year.

 

From 2003 to present, poultry  production tripled, doubled the level of per capita consumption and export increased over tenfold, from US$65 - 650 million.

 

Today, Argentina is the ninth largest producer of poultry meat, producing 1.6 million tonnes. According to industry estimates, more than 90,000 tonnes were produced in 2011, reaching a record two million tonnes this year.

 

"We are on track to be within a few years, the fourth largest producer of poultry meat," said Giorgi.

 

He also emphasised that Argentina "is the sixth largest exporter of poultry meat and sells to over 60 countries", for one, so far this year already exported 356,000 tonnes, 100,000 of which were destined to Venezuela.

 

In 1970, it took 2.8 kg of balanced food for a kg of chicken and 75 days for a broiler chicken of 2,500 kg. In 2010, two kg of food was required to do the same balanced kg of chicken and 46 days for a broiler chicken of 2,760 kg. Since the incorporation of technology in the production chain, for 2017 producers are going to need 1.7 kg of food and 38 days for a broiler chicken of 2,800 kg.

 

Argentina has a level of domestic consumption of 40 kg per capita per year, which mobilises investment in the sector to increase capacity and production. The forum, Poultry Industry Strategic Plan 2020, agreed to reach this year with a consumption of poultry meat in the country of 50 kg per capita per year, producing 3.1 million tonnes (91% more than in 2010), generating 50,000 jobs to achieve the 200,000 workers in the sector and export 600,000 tonnes per year.

 

Every tonne of corn and soy exported by Argentina means an average income of US$620. In the poultry sector that same tonne processed into chicken can generate foreign exchange for US$2,300 and US$2,900 if it is exported as bucking chicken cooked.

 

This means that industrialisation poultry increases between 270% and 370% foreign exchange earnings of one tonne of grain exported as a commodity.

 

The sector also adds value to export, through quality and technology to process the meat end with the best performance.

 

Argentina registered a steady growth since 2003, going from 300 million head of poultry slaughtered, compared with over 700 million in 2011, while consumption of poultry meat in the period 2003-2011 increased from 18 to 39.5 kg per capita.

 

Meanwhile, exports grew at an average rate of 37% per year, currently more than 60 countries.