Brazil earns 11.3% less with chicken exports

Poultry meat from Brazil is still in high demand, but at lower prices. Photo: Henk Riswick

Brazil´s chicken meat exports revenues have fallen 11.3% in the first 8 months of 2020 compared to the same period last year. A lower exchange rate costs Brazil US$?0.42 billion.

The Brazilian currency Real fell about 25% to the dollar since January, which is the main reason earnings are down. The country exported 2.833 million tons of poultry meat, or 1.8% more. In August alone, Brazilian chicken meat exports increased by 11.3%, reaching a whopping 362,400 tons.

According to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), 325,700 tonnes were exported in the same period last year. “The monthly growth of exports is positive in practically all the major sectors, from beef to chicken,” adds Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA. The expert says the upward trend in export helps to reduce the impacts of rising costs in the face of the pandemic and increasing demanding for grains.

The monthly growth of exports is positive in practically all the major sectors, from beef to chicken.”

Export destinations for Brazilian poultry

Brazil’s largest client China increased its imports by 46% in August compared to the same month of 2019, totalling 54,700 tons in the month.
Its second largest export destination, Saudi Arabia increased 24% last month compared to the same period in 2019, with a total of 46,700 tons in the month.
Another highlight in the Middle East was the United Arab Emirates, which also increased its imports by 24%, reaching 25,800 tonnes in the month.
In Asia, the export volume to South Korea increased by 25%, with a total of 14.200 tons.
Another large consumer for Brazilian chicken, the European Union, increased its imports by 14% in August, totalling 21,800 tons.

Brazil exports about a million tons of halal poultry
Brazil exported almost 1 million tons of halal chicken for Islamic countries during the first semester of 2020. Up to 40% of Brazilian exports respect these religious and sanitary standards.

Philippines lifts embargo on Brazilian chicken meat

The Philippines lifted the embargo on Brazilian chicken meat mid September. The measure came after the Brazilian government showed that the production chain is adopting preventive measures against the new coronavirus. However, the Asian country will demand packages with seals in order to guarantee products handled in factories that follow strict sanitary and hygiene measures. The Philippines suspended imports from Brazil in August, after a municipality in China detected traces of the coronavirus on packaging material.