Brazilian Chicken Meat Exports Up 9.3%

BRASILIA - Apr 30/04 - SNS -- Brazilian chicken meat exports rose 9.3% during the first quarter of the current calendar year, totalling 537,335 metric tons (MT).

This expansion in volume is the lowest in the past four years, despite the animal health (Avian Influenza) concerns in the global market, which was expected to help Brazilian chicken meat exports, since the country is free of A.I., notes the U.S agricultural attache here.

The Brazilian Broiler Processing Exporters Association (ABEF) believes the total volume exported could have been 20,000 MT higher during the first quarter of the year if not for the strike of Brazilian government inspectors that temporarily hit all exports of agricultural and food products.

However, the value of exports during the same period increased significantly by 46%. According to Post's trade contacts, this is the result of a strategy developed by major broiler packers to (1) prioritize the valorization of chicken prices due to the outbreaks of Avian Influenza in different parts of the world; (2) concentrate efforts on the exports of high value products (parts and processed broilers); and, (3) expand and/or maintain volume by market promotion in non-traditional markets.

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