The Brazilian exports of chicken meat reached more than 80 countries. Poultry raising has been increasing over the last 25 years in Brazil, which has become the second major exporter worldwide. Brazil represents 18 per cent of the worldwide market, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has disclosed.
In 2001, Brazilian exports amounted to 1.26 million tons, an increase of 37.54 per cent. The income totalled US$1.33billion (€1.47 billion), 60.48 per cent higher than the US$828.74million reported in 2000. The South region is the main exporter with 1.18million tons or 93.6 per cent of the total. BRF, a company formed by Perdigao Agroindustrial and Sadia S.A., expects to ship 50 per cent of its production to East Europe. The goal is a turnover of US$150 million in 2002 reaching US$500 million within five years.
Exports of Brazilian hog meat also followed the good performance of the cattle meat and poultry sectors in 2001. The hog meat appears among the 10 biggest export products.. The segment registered an income of US$346.4million, a boom of 112.84 per cent compared to the US$162.75million reported in the year before. The volume increased from 116,000 million tons to 247,370 million tons.
Brazil is among the fourth biggest exporters of hog meat worldwide, behind EU, Canada and the US. The Brazilian companies Sadia reported a growth of 93.1 per cent on the exports of hog meat and Perdigao exported R$164.7million (€76 million) in 2001, a boom of 255.4 per cent. Seara Alimentos was the major exporter in 2001 with 71,500 m tons, 103.2 per cent higher when compared to 2000. Seara exported a total of R$865.79million in 2001 (hog and poultry meat) or 63 per cent of the R$1.3billion turnover. The Russians were the main importers of hog meat with US$346.4million against US$162.75million in 2000.