São Paulo – Brazilian poultry exports broke a record in 2014, according to the results released this Wednesday (07) by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA, in the Portuguese acronym). Last year, Brazil exported 4.1 million tons, a volume 3% higher than 2013. Revenues in foreign exchange totaled US$ 8.08 billion, a figure 0.2% lower than the one recorded in the previous year. In reais (Brazilian currency), there were also record-breaking results: R$ 19 billion, with a 9% increase over 2013.
Looking at it by regions, the Middle East kept its place as the main destination of Brazilian exports, but shipments dropped 5.2% in 2014. In all, the countries of the region imported 1.372 million tons. Sales to Asia, second largest client, went up 5.7% to 1.181 million tons, and to Africa, the third largest client, exports totaled 516.3 thousand tons, a figure 1.7% lower in comparison to 2013.
The European Union (EU) was the fourth largest market, but with a 2.2% sales retraction, with 413.9 thousand tons; to the Americas, fifth market, exports had a 22.4% spike and reached 344.3 thousand tons. European countries that are not part of EU imported 73.1% more poultry, with total sales of 163.7 thousand tons. Sales to Oceania reached 2.2 thousand tons, a 25.1% increase.
According to ABPA’s released data, Russia, Angola, Venezuela and United Arab Emirates were the countries that showed the most significant growth in poultry exports from Brazil. The Emirates purchased 257 thousand tons, 4.9% more if compared to 2013.
Among the product types exported, chicken in cuts had the most shipments with 2.219 million tons. Whole chicken reached 1.43 million tons, salted meat were at 188.7 thousand tons and industrialized had 157.7 thousand tons.
In the ABPA’s release, its CEO Francisco Turra said that the 2014 performance consolidates the sector’s recovery after the international crises and "lays the groundwork" for gaining access to new markets in 2015. The growth estimation for exports this year is of 3%. Cambodia, Pakistan, India and Indonesia are some of these markets that could become buyers of Brazilian poultry.
*Translation by Sérgio Kakitani
