For the year to the end of August, the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) reports that the country's pork exports were just under 319,000 tonnes, which is 7.1 per cent less than at the same point in 2013. The value of those exports totalled US$980.6 million, making the average price $3,074, representing increases of 10.3 and 18.7 per cent, respectively, from the figures last year.

Taking the figures for July, the export volume was 18.8 per cent lower this year than in 2013 at 40,972 tonnes, while the value was up by 10.5 per cent at $139.4 million. The average price for the month was 36.0 per cent higher at $3,401 per tonne.

Also in August, the value of exports was higher this year than last while the volume was down double-digits in percentage terms, resulting in the average price up by one-third.

So in that month, the volume of pig meat exported by Brazil dropped 19.4 per cent from 52,341 tonnes to 42,166 tonnes, while the total value increased from $132.8 million to $142.4 million. The average price stood at $3,377; in August 2013, it was $2,538.