August 20, 2007

Brazil's July chicken exports doubles on-year

Brazilian chicken meat exports increased 106 percent compared with the same month last year, totalling US$ 440 million in July.

Volume shipped was 53 percent higher, rising to 284,000 tonnes, thanks to increased demand from the Middle East and the EU, according to the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef).

Exports are also seen to be higher in light of the lower volumes shipped last year due to bird flu.

Although the Middle East imported almost twice as much chicken as the EU (88,160 tonnes against 46,530 tonnes respectively), value was similar in the two regions (US$118.1 million versus US$112 million), reflecting the higher value of the EU market.

From the first seven months of the year, Brazilian chicken exports yielded US$ 2.58 billion, an increase of 54.6 percent over the same period in 2006, while tonnage increased 28 percent to 1.42 million tonnes. 

The main region for Brazilian chicken is the Middle East, with 549,470 tonnes shipped followed by Asia at 459,000 tonnes. The EU is third at 318,000 tonnes.

Brazilian chicken exports are expected to hit 3 million tonnes by the end of the year, and revenues should reach US$ 4 billion, a record high for the sector, according to the acting executive president at the Abef, Christian Lohbauer.