Brazilian pork exports up 50.4% and chicken exports down 12.4% in June

According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), Brazilian pork exports (considering all products, between fresh and processed) totaled 96,100 tonnes in June, a volume 50.4% higher than June 2019, with a total of 63,900 tonnes. In revenue terms, the increase was 43.4%, with a balance of US$198 million recorded in June this year, compared to US$138.1 million in 2019.

Year-to-date pork sales are 37% higher in 2020 compared to 2019, with 479,400 tonnes exported between January and June 2020, against 349,900 tons exported in the first six months of last year.  During the same period comparison, there was an increase of 52.5% with US$1.076 billion this year as opposed to US$705.6 million in 2019.  Sales to Asia reached 374,500 tonnes in the first half of this year, which was 83.1% higher than that recorded in 2019. China, the largest pork importer in Brazil, received 230,700 tonnes during this period, up 150.2%. Hong Kong, in second place, imported 18.6% more, at 92,900 tonnes. Another prominent market was Singapore, which imported 27,800 tons, 51.6% up on the previous year.

Brazilian chicken exports (including fresh and processed) totaled 341,900 tonnes in June, a volume 12.4% lower than that registered in the same period last year, which was 390,500 tonnes. In terms of revenue, the balance of exports reached US$446.5 million in June, a number 30.95% lower than that registered in the same period of 2019, at US$646.2 million.  The accumulated total for the year so far showed that sales grow by 1.7%, with 2.106 million tonnes shipped between January and June this year, against 2.072 million tonnes in 2019. In the same period, revenues from exports generated US$3.144 billion, 8.8% lower than the balance in the first half of 2019, which was US$3.448 billion.

Similar to the pork sector, Asia was also the main destination for Brazilian exports of chicken, which reached 837,300 tonnes in the first half.  This is 15% higher than the same period in 2019. China’s imports of chicken increased by 32%, reaching 346,300 tonnes between January and June 2020. Singapore received 67,600 tonnes (+ 49%), Philippines imported 43,800 tonnes (+ 72% ) and Vietnam registered 19,800 tonnes (+ 73%).

“There was also strengthening in sales to nations in Africa, such as Egypt, Libya, and Angola, in addition to Arab nations such as Kuwait, Yemen, and Qatar, which gave sustainability to the sector’s shipments in the year, with monthly averages higher than those made in the first half of 2019”, says Ricardo Santin, executive director of ABPA.

According to the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), of the Ministry of Economy, exports of fresh, chilled, or frozen beef totaled 152,470 tonnes in June, 33.1% above the 114,500 tonnes exported in June 2019. Revenues totaled US$655.47 million, up 48.2%. The average price reached US$4,298.90 per ton, compared to US$3,860.80 in June last year.

The following chart shows Brazilian exports of beef, pork, and chicken on a monthly basis since January 2019:

Report sources: ABPA and Estadão Content