Brazil’s pork meat exports reached US$ 78.9 million in March, which represented an increase of 39% when compared to last February, in spite of the decrease of 22% in exports volume.
The main reason was the rise in pork meat prices at external markets. A total of 33,234 tons of pork meat were shipped in March, according to the Brazilian Association of Meat Industries’ yesterday announcement.
This year’s first quarter registers an income of US$ 226.8 million, a 90% increase when compared to the same period of 2004, and 113,385 tons in exports volume, up 23% when compared to first quarter of last year.
Earnings from Brazilian pork exports rose 136% in the first two months of 2005, compared with the same period last year. In January and February Brazil exported US$ 147.9 million, as against US$ 61.97 million in the first two months of 2004, according to a survey from the Brazilian Pork Production and Export Industry Association (Abipecs).
The increase in export revenues in January and February was due to both higher pork prices and an increase in export volume.
In the first two months of the year, 80,151 tons of pork were shipped abroad – 63% more than during the January/February period last year. In February alone Brazil exported 42,837 tons, worth US$ 79.8 million – a 51.3% increase in volume and 122% increase in receipts. The average price per ton jumped from US$ 1,269 in February, 2004, to US$ 1,845 in February of this year.
So far this year four of Brazil’s five biggest markets have registered increases in volume and receipts. Shipments to Russia, the principal market for Brazilian pork, grew 92% in volume in 196% in total export earnings.
Shipments to Hong Kong, the second largest market, grew 13.5% in volume and 38% in receipts; to Singapore, 38.5% in volume and 70.5% in receipts; to South Africa, 15.5% in volume and 45.5% in receipts. Sales to Argentina experienced a 26% drop in volume but a 4% rise in receipts.
Agência Brasil
