São Paulo – The Middle East is consuming more chicken. This is what figures by the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef), disclosed on Tuesday (9), in São Paulo, show. Five Arab countries are among the world’s main consumers of chicken. The United Arab Emirates topped the list, with the highest per capita consumption in the world in 2011, at 67.2 kilograms per inhabitant, 14.09% more than in 2010.
The second largest is Kuwait, with 64.1 kilograms/year per inhabitant, growth of 6.48% over 2010. Bahrain consumed 61.6 kilograms per person, growth of 10.79%. In Saudi Arabia, consumption was 54 kilograms per person, 11.57% greater than in the previous year. In sixth place, just behind Jamaica, is Qatar, with 48.7 kilograms per inhabitant (growth of 14.59%). Brazil is in seventh in the list, with 47.4 kilograms per capita and growth of 7.48% over 2010.
In absolute terms, countries like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have remained prominent in imports in the Brazilian poultry sector. Saudi Arabia was the main destination for Brazilian chicken, with 16% of imports (622,600 tonnes), of a total of 4.118 million tonnes, while the Emirates are among the main importers of eggs (3,000 tonnes) and duck, goose and other poultry (111.5 tonnes).
The Ubabef informed that it aims to increase chicken exports to the Arab countries that underwent political crises in 2011. The organisation’s expectations for 2012 are to return to the 2010 levels.
Egypt, which imported the equivalent to 124,450 tonnes of chicken in 2010, bought just 72,750 tonnes last year, and was one of the Brazilian buyers that reduced purchases the most. Ricardo Santin, Market director at Ubabef, said that the organisation was visited by an Egyptian diplomat who said that his country hopes to increase Brazilian chicken imports this year.
“We expect this recovery based on the [speed of] return of local production, which may take a little longer than the domestic demand during the establishment of local political balance. There may, therefore, be growth,” said Santin. He also recalled that, apart from the political crisis, chicken production in Egypt was faced by avian flu.
Expectations for the other countries of the region are for exports to remain practically at the same level as in 2011. “We are managing to complement local production in countries that have it, and supply the demand in those that do not produce. We feel that exports are going to remain stable, with moderate growth, as we do have a global crisis, and it is reflected in the countries that buy from Brazil,” said the executive.
According to Santin, there are not many actions for promotion planned in the Arab world in 2012, as domestic chicken already has a consolidated market in the region. “We have a very consistent market, well built, in a very long-term partnership,” he pointed out. The main channel for promotion to the Arabs will be participation in Gulfood, the main food sector fair in the Middle East, to take place from February 19th to 22nd, in Dubai.
The organisation is studying bringing Arab journalists to learn about the poultry sector in Brazil, and also aims to bring importers from the region to show them the production chain.
With regard to the kinds of chicken imported by the Arabs, the main type is still the griller, a small chicken that is sold whole. Santin pointed out, however, that there has been growing interest in the region in the purchase of chicken cuts. “They started buying parts, and companies started investing in marketing there,” he pointed out.
The marketing actions in other countries scheduled for this year include participation in food sector fair Sial in France and China, and a workshop in Indonesia.
Regarding the European economic crisis, Santin said it may affect Brazilian exports due to lack of credit. However, the executive also sees possibilities of gain for Brazil in this scenery.
“There may be migration of protein in Europe itself. When crises become stronger, people stop consuming more expensive protein, like beef and port, and migrate [to cheaper protein], so we may even see the opposite [of what is forecasted], with chicken exports rising to supply the local demand,” he added.
*Translated by Mark Ament
