Brazilian industry points out shortage risk of veterinary medicines
Brazilian livestock producers have been using their stocks since March, but supply can be a problem for the second half of 2020.
The Brazilian National Union of the Industry for Animal Health Products (SINDAN) has warned that producers might be dealing with a lack of veterinary medicines in the second half of this year, despite the fact that they have been operating normally during the first few months of the pandemic.
Price rise expected
The Union held a survey among its associated members in June, 52,2 percent of whom reported difficulties with importing active ingredients during the pandemic. They also expect prices to rise in the upcoming months because a large part of the inputs are imported.
“This sector has been seriously impacted by the pandemic. We had problems importing medicines such as ivermectin, abamectin and doramectin, which are important for cattle, and antibiotics for pig and poultry”, SINDAN president Emilio Salani said.
Unexpected increase in costs
23 of the 82 associated companies took part in the Animal Health Industry Thermometer survey, and more than 95 percent of respondents said that their factories operated normally, using their stocks and following new safety protocols during the pandemic.
According to Salani, the market imbalance, caused by the crisis, also caused an unexpected increase in costs due to exchange rate variation and operational, logistical expenses that will affect farmers.
“This scenario should force prices of veterinary medicines to realign in the second half of the year. SINDAN’s members are already evaluating whether or not they will have to pass on the cost to producers”, Salani added.
Covid-19 Up-date
What impact is the pandemic having on the global pig sector and how are they dealing with it.
Underachieving
In any case, the quarantine affected sales should have a negative impact on the results for 2020. 78,3% of the executives interviewed stated their companies would not reach their goals for 2020.
The research also highlighted less contact with customers (56,5 percent) and employee motivation due to uncertainty (47,8 percent) as obstacles. Despite these results, sentiment in the sector is still optimistic, to some extent.
Although 52,2 percent are neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the status quo, 26,1 percent say they are optimistic, whereas 21,7 percent are pessimistic. Regarding the future, 39,1 percent expect to emerge stronger from the crisis.
