Brazil's broiler meat demand is estimated to reach 13.25 million metric tons in 2012, driven mostly by domestic demand and a small recovery in exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Marketing Service's International Egg and Poultry Review. This number is up from 2011's 12.86 million metric tons.
Domestic consumption of broiler meat is projected to increase at a slower rate in 2012, up 3 percent to 9.9 million metric tons, due to increases in the disposable incomes of Brazilian consumers and broiler meat’s competitive price compared to other meats. Broiler meat consumption grew 14 percent in 2010 and 6 percent in 2011.
Broiler meat exports are expected to grow 3 percent in 2012, to 3.3 million metric tons, according to the report. The growth in exports is likely to be driven by higher sales of whole broilers in general, and chicken parts, in particular, to China and Hong Kong. Trade sources also expect higher exports to Egypt and Iraq in 2012.
The total volume of broiler meat exports in 2011, including chicken feet and paws, reached 3.7 million metric tons, an increase of 3.3 percent from 2010. The value of exports increased 22 percent, to US$7.6 billion, due to the increase in the average price of broiler meat in the world market.
