São Paulo – Brazil presented a drop in poultry exports last March, according to a report by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA, acronym in Portuguese) released this Monday (8). The shipped volume reached 340,500 tons, 9.5% less than in the same month last year. In revenue, exports accounted for USD 564.8 million, a balance 4.1% lower than in the same period of 2018.
The accumulated balance this year is 939,300 tons shipped, a 7.6% lower than exports in the first quarter of last year. In revenue, the period registered USD 1.543 billion, a performance 3.8% lower in the same comparison.
“Although lower than in the same period of last year, the exports volume in March is higher than the balance of February this year and shows a growth rate month by month. Within this context, the overall average price in March was 5.5% higher than in the same period of last year, driven specially by sales to the Middle East and Asia,” assesses ABPA president Francisco Turra in the release.
Sales have increased to the United Arab Emirates, which were a highlight last month, with imports at 36,300 tons, a 23% growth over March 2018. Qatar purchased 40% more in the same comparison, with a monthly sum of 7,400 tons.
Exports to the European Union grew by 5% last month, reaching 20,300 tons, and the market-leading China has purchase 2% more, reaching 41,700 tons.
“In addition to China’s consolidation as the main destination of Brazilian poultry, the high increase of sales to the UAE suggests the sustenance of the halal products flow to the Middle East,” stressed ABPA executive director Ricardo Santin in the release.
Four Arab countries were among the top ten importers of Brazilian poultry in March. They are: Saudi Arabia, in 2nd place, with 30,300 tons; the UAE, in 3rd place, with 36,300 tons; Yemen, in 8th place, with 10,300 tons; and Kuwait, 9th place, with 9,400 tons.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
