Brazil’s pig sector to achieve new highs due to ASF
Asia is increasingly becoming more important for the Brazilian pig sector, as a result of African Swine Fever in that continent. Although Brazil’s internal market still remains the most important, Asia is already the recipient of 64% of Brazilian pork exports.
It looks like Brazil broke 2 pig industry records in 2019. Most likely, 2019’s pigmeat production will overtake the 4 million tonnes total for the 1st time ever and, furthermore, it is likely to achieve the best year ever with exports of 740,000 tonnes.
An extraordinary year for poultry and pig sectors
The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) presented those expectations late last year during its annual closing event in São Paulo, Brazil. Francisco Turra, ABPA president, classified 2019 as ‘extraordinary’ for both poultry and pig sectors in the country.
Ahead of the final publication of the 2019 figures, he said, “We have to celebrate. After 4 difficult years, we have reacted and are closing 2019 much better. In December 2018, for example, we were full of doubts. We had registered a fall in production, export and consumption. Today we see that we had a prosperous year for stabilisation.”
All animal protein will have an exceptional market in the coming years. Brazil is one of the world’s most important food supplier.” – Francisco Turra, ABPA president.
More trade due to ASF crisis in Asia
The increasing overseas trade is directly related to the ASF crisis in Asia, which has resulted in boosted imports in Brazil’s chicken, pigmeat as well as beef sectors. Almost a third (32.7%) of Brazilian pig exports was sent to China and 21.6% to Hong Kong by November, meaning Asia received 64% of the total exports.
America and Africa account for, 19% and 8%, respectively. The EU just 0.2%, the Middle East 4% and another 5% was shipped to European countries outside the European Union. With regard to total volumes, the growth is estimated to be around 14.5% which will overtake the previous record of 732,000 tonnes.
Read more about pig production in Brazil
Production grew in 2019 as well
With respect to production, Brazil will have grown 1-2.5% from the 3.97 million tonnes produced last year and most probably reach 4.0 or 4.1 million tonnes for the very first time. Turra commented: “All animal protein will have an exceptional market in the coming years. Brazil is one of the world’s most important food supplier. Nevertheless, our main market will continue to be formed by Brazilian consumers.”
The final data for the whole of 2019 are expected to be shared by ABPA later this month.
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