São Paulo – Saudi Arabia and Japan were the only two countries whose poultry imports from Brazil increased March-on-March. According to the monthly and quarterly results released this Tuesday (2nd) by the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef), poultry exports amounted to 319,700 tonnes in March, down 12.1% from 363,000 tonnes in March 2012. Export revenues reached US$ 709 million, down 0.4% from US$ 712 million in March 2012.
According to the Ubabef, in March, Saudi Arabia imported 63,570 tonnes of poultry from Brazil, up 20% from 52,866 tonnes imported in March 2012. Saudi imports had already increased by 58% in February and 12% in January this year compared with February and January 2012. Other markets did not perform up to par.
The Ubabef president Francisco Turra said in a press release that the volume shipped in March last year was atypical for the month. He also said the industry is working with low inventory levels and high costs. Despite this scenario, Turra said, revenues were almost level with those of March 2012.
Year-to-date, the volume shipped stood at 901,200 tonnes, down 7.5% from January to March 2012. Revenues reached US$ 1.93 billion, up 9.2% from quarter one, 2012. Year-to-date, exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to 174,847 tonnes, up 28% from 136,355 tonnes shipped from January to March 2012.
Countries whose poultry imports from Brazil declined in March include Venezuela, China and South Africa. Sales to Venezuela have shrunk due to political instability. Sales to South Africa dropped because South Africans have accused Brazil of dumping (exporting products at prices lower than those charged in the country of origin) and resorted to surcharges starting in February 2012. Although the country has given up surcharging Brazilian chicken in December 2012, sales have not returned to previous levels.
Exports to China have dropped due to “documental” issues, according to the Ubabef release. Sales to the European Union were also down, but in this case, the reason was the bloc’s quota regime.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
