São Paulo – Brazilian poultry exports reached US$ 6.2 billion from January to November, representing growth of 17.4% over the same period of last year. A total of 3.5 million tonnes were shipped, a 5.5% increase using the same basis of comparison. The figures were disclosed Thursday (9th) by the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef).
Middle Eastern countries have retained their position as leading buyers of Brazilian poultry. So far this year, sales to the region have reached US$ 2 billion, a 14.9% increase compared with January to November last year. Shipments reached 1.2 million tonnes, 0.7% more using the same basis of comparison.
According to the Ubabef, the Brazilian poultry export performance should set a new record for the industry’s sales. By the end of the year, shipments should reach 3.83 million, 5.5% more than in 2009. Brazil, which became the leading poultry exporter in the world in 2004, still retains the status, ahead of the United States, which should export 3 million tonnes this year.
"The year of 2010 has been a good year. It has not been fantastic, because we had a significant increase in input costs, and besides, the exchange rate worked against our competiveness abroad, given the appreciation of the real against the dollar," said in a statement the executive chairman of the Ubabef, Francisco Turra.
The union’s projections for 2011 point to growth of 3% to 5% in shipments and, according to Turra, demand should remain strong on the foreign market, because buyer countries’ stocks are running low.
From January to November, the second leading buyer region was Asia, with 857,700 tonnes shipped and US$ 1.7 billion in revenues. The African market imported the equivalent of US$ 558.7 million, and the Americas, US$ 437.8 million.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
