Brazilian chicken exports reduced in March 2019

The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) studies show that Brazilian exports of chicken meat (both fresh and processed products) reached 340,500 tons in March, 9.5 percent lower than the 376,200 tons exported in the same period from last year.

In terms of revenues, monthly shipments reached US$564.8 million, a balance 4.1 percent lower than the sales of March 2018, when US$589.1 million were obtained.

In the year, the accumulated balance is 939,300 tons, 7.6 percent lower than the volume exported in the first quarter of last year, of 1.016 million tons. Regarding the result in revenues, it reached US$1.543 billion, performance 3.8 percent lower than that obtained in 2018, of US$1.604 billion.

“Despite being lower than the same period last year, the volume of exports in March is higher than the balance of February this year, which shows the growth rate of exports month by month. In this context, the general average price of March was 5.5 percent higher than the same period last year, driven in particular by sales from the Middle East and Asia,” analyzed Francisco Turra, president of ABPA.

The United Arab Emirates highlighted this month, with imports of 36,300 tons, 23 percent more than in March 2018. Qatar also increased its purchases, with a monthly total of 7,400 tons (40 percent).

Sales to the European Union also grew during the past month, reaching 20,300 tons (5 percent).

A leader among importers of chicken meat from Brazil, China also increased its purchases in the month, to reach 41,700 tons (2 percent).

“In addition to the consolidation of China as the main destination for Brazilian chicken meat, the sharp increase in sales to the Arab Emirates indicates the sustained flow of halal products in the Middle East,” said Ricardo Santin, executive director of ABPA.

Below is the list of the main importers of chicken meat from Brazil in March: