Surveys by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) reveal that Brazilian exports of chicken meat (considering all products, including fresh and processed) totalled 418.1 thousand tons in March.
The volume is the highest recorded in 2024, although it is 18.8% lower than the total shipped in the same period in 2023, with 514.6 thousand tons (highest monthly volume ever shipped in the history of the sector).
Total revenue obtained from exports in March reached US$751.3 million, a performance 23.4% lower than the comparative balance for the same period last year, with US$980.5 million.
In the quarterly comparison, exports carried out between January and March this year reached 1.220 million tons, a volume 7.2% lower than the accumulated balance in the first three months of 2023, with 1.314 million tons. In the same period, accumulated revenue reached US$2.141 billion, 16.77% lower than the total recorded in the first quarter of 2023, with US$2.573 billion.
“There was atypical behaviour in March last year, the only time in which the 500 thousand ton barrier was broken in the history of chicken meat exports. This creates a mistaken idea regarding the month of March this year, which, in fact, remained within the flow expected by the sector, remaining on average above 400 thousand tons per month," said Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA.
In the ranking of the main destinations for the month of March, the United Arab Emirates leads with 40.7 thousand tons, a volume 16.2% higher than that recorded in the same period in 2023. Next is China, with 38.9 thousand tons (-48 .9%) and Saudi Arabia, with 35 thousand tons (+3.9%).
Among the main exporting states, Paraná remains in the lead with 172.3 thousand tons shipped in March, a volume 19.6% lower than the total recorded in the third month of 2023. Next is Santa Catarina, with 94.5 thousand tons (-9.6%) and Rio Grande do Sul, with 56.8 thousand tons (-23.4%).
“We have seen Middle Eastern countries gain even more prominence in recent months, with substantial purchases of chicken meat, in a context of uncertainty in the region," said Luis Road, ABPA marketing director. "In general, the world market currently presents a balance between supply and demand, which should favour Brazilian exporters in the coming months, especially in a context of the resurgence of avian influenza in some competing countries."
