From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Brazilian exports of chicken totalled US$ 3.2 billion last year, representing an 8.7% reduction when compared to 2005. Shipments totalled 2.71 million tonnes, a reduction of 4.7% when compared to the previous year, according to figures disclosed today (29) by the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef).
Last year, the performance of Brazilian exports of chicken were affected by the shrinkage of imports by main consumers in Europe and Asia, due to cases of avian flu in countries on these continents in early 2006. Another unfavourable factor was the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar, which reduced the profitability of export companies.
The countries in the Middle East were the main Brazilian chicken consumer markets. Last year, shipments totalled 754,720 tonnes, representing exports of US$ 821.88 million. The second greatest market in terms of volume was Asia, which imported 739,630 tonnes.
The Asian countries were the ones that provided greatest revenues to Brazil, with imports of US$ 881.67 million. Then came the European Union (EU), which purchased 351,470 tonnes, totalling US$ 684.4 million.
Apart from these markets, Brazil exported chicken to South America, Africa and Russia, which imported 185,810 tonnes alone, representing exports of US$ 199.17 million.
Forecasts for 2007
For this year, Abef forecasts are that shipment will total 2.85 million tonnes, an increase of 5% over 2006, with revenues of US$ 3.420 billion, a growth of 6.8% in the same comparison.
*Translated by Mark Ament
