December 5, 2013

Brazil's chicken meat exports totalled 3.567 million tonnes between January and November 2013, with a slight decrease of 0.3% compared to the same period last year, while revenues have increased 5.2% to US$7.349 billion, the Brazilian Poultry Union (UBABEF) reported.

During the month of November, shipments of poultry meat reached 347,700 tonnes this year, 11.4% higher than November 2012. There was also a 3.9% growth in monthly revenue compared with the previous year, with US$678.7 million in November 2013.

"This result was influenced by the traditional increase in shipments in the second half, as well as remnants of difficulties faced by Brazilian exports two months ago, when product shipments were postponed due to weather problems in ports, which hampered the export process," said UBABEF president Francisco Turra.

According to him, UBABEF predicts that chicken meat exports in 2013 are expected to achieve equivalent results in the total volume exported in 2012, totalling 3.9 million tonnes. Revenue is expected to grow by 4% to US$8 billion.

The production of poultry meat is forecast to reach around 12.3 million tonnes, an approximate 3% less than total production in 2012.

For 2014, UBABEF estimates a 4% growth in the total volume of domestic production compared to this year. Next year's exports are expected to grow between 2% and 2.5% compared to the volumes shipped in 2013.

"Production growth is expected to take off in exports, given the possibility of heating the domestic market with large international events. The expectation is that government policies aimed at domestic supply during the World Cup will favour the consumption of poultry products within Brazil, recovering production levels equivalent to 2012. We have a steady, reliable growth, but without excessive optimism," said Turra.