From the Newsroom
São Paulo – Brazilian pork export revenues from January to November were already greater than in the whole of 2002. According to the Brazilian Pork Exporters Association (Abipecs), by November, revenues had totaled US$ 512.4 million. In the whole of last year, this figure was US$ 481 million.
The export value from January to November this year has been 15% larger than the total for the same period last year. In terms of volumes, up to November, a total of 464,103 tons were shipped, 7% greater than the volume shipped between the same months last year, stated the Abipecs.
This greater revenue increase when compared to quantities, according to Abipecs, is due to higher prices the product has reached on the international market. According to the association, the average price registered up to November was US$ 1,104 per ton, 8% greater than that registered in the same period in 2002.
November
In November, the average price rose as high as US$ 1,338, the highest monthly price registered in the last two years, showing a 43% increase when compared to the same month in 2002.
With regard to export in November, the Abipecs says that the second best historic result in terms of values was reached, losing only to revenues in October. A total of 45,612 tons of pork was sold abroad, equivalent to little over US$ 61 million, a 2% increase in volumes shipped, and 46% increase in revenues in comparison to November 2002.
Markets
In the Abipecs evaluation, apart from the price increase, this performance was reached due to the search for new markets in an attempt "to face barriers against Brazilian pork in 2003."
The organization pointed out that sales to Argentina, although this is not a new market for Brazilian products, has just started importing after a serious economic crisis. According to the association, shipments to the neighboring country between January and November totaled 34,413 tons, adding up to US$ 39.4 million, a 216% growth in volumes and 278% growth in values when compared to the same period last year.
The Abipecs also mentioned export to Hong Kong, where export volumes have risen 16% in the same period, reaching a total of 53,059 tons, and export values have risen 15%, at US$ 53 million.
Other new importer markets mentioned were South Africa, Bulgaria, Albania, Singapore, and Georgia, which together were responsible for purchases totaling US$ 38 million between January and November.
Russia
The problem in the sector is currently Russia, which is the main market for Brazilian pork, responsible for almost 60% of export revenues, and has imposed a quota system to become even more restricting in 2004. While between January and November 2002 over 346,800 tons were shipped to the country, in the same period this year the total was 301,475 tons. Revenues have also dropped from around US$ 350 million to US$ 337.1 million.
Fearing the impact that the loss of great part of the Russian market may cause, the sector has asked the Brazilian government to take “immediate initiatives” to support pork export. Russia has also established quotas for cattle beef and poultry.
