The New Year is frequently a time for both looking forward and looking back. If you look back on the past year with satisfaction and to the new year with positivity, then you are probably in a pretty healthy position.
This is exactly where the Brazilian poultry industry would appear to be. In late December, poultry and pig industry body ABPA released its production and export estimates to year end and its predictions for 2024, and both were in positive territory.
Looking back, the association noted that the poultry sector would, once again, record another year of expansion. It noted that total poultry production would end 2023 approximately 2.6% higher at 14.8 million metric tons (MT). This may be slightly below the 3.1% expansion in the Brazilian economy thought to have occurred last year, but is positive, nonetheless. Where exports are concerned, shipments are thought to have risen by a much stronger 6.8%, reaching 5.1 million MT.
New record expected
An even brighter horizon is forecast for this year.
For 2024, the association believes that output will be 3.7% higher than that estimated for 2023, reaching 15.35 million MT. While exports will slow in comparison to 2023, they, nevertheless, will rise by 3.9% to stand at 5.3 million MT, setting a new record.
And Brazilians will not only be producing and exporting more chicken, they will be eating more too. Per capita consumption is expected to rise from 46 kg to 47 kg, and more chicken meat should be available for local consumers. In 2023, chicken meat sold into the home market rose by 1%. For this year, it is forecast to rise by 3.6%, reaching 10 million MT.
ABPA notes that the first half of 2023 was challenging, but that those challenges were overcome and that now the industry has achieved a greater balance between supply and demand. Export markets were strong during 2023, and this should continue throughout 2024.
At the turn of the year, it’s worth reviewing the year that has gone, as well as looking forward to the year ahead. Doing so is particularly satisfying if you happen to work in the Brazilian poultry industry.
