Brazilian pork exports, including all products, both fresh and processed, ended 2023 with a record performance, totalling 1.229 million tons, according to a recent market report from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). The result exceeds the total volume shipped in 2022 by 9.8%, with 1.120 million tons.

In terms of revenue, international pork sales reached US$2.818 billion in the twelve months of 2023, a record number that exceeds by 9.5% the balance reached in 2022, with US$2.572 billion.

“The result confirms the projections established by ABPA for 2023, in a year marked by fluctuations in production costs and the search to recover profitability in the activity," said Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA. "Given the opening of new markets for Brazilian pork and the good expectations regarding the behaviour of traditional destinations for Brazilian products, it is expected that the levels achieved over the past year will be maintained this year."

The sector's exports closed December with a positive result. In total, 110.9 thousand tons were shipped in the month, up 7.9% than the 102.8 thousand tons exported in the same period in 2022.

In terms of revenue, pork exports totalled US$231.5 million, a balance 8.8% lower than the result recorded in December 2022, with US$253.8 million.

China, the largest importer of pork in Brazil, purchased 388.6 thousand tons of the product throughout 2023, a number 15.6% lower than the total shipped to the country in the same period of 2022. 

Sales to Hong Kong totalled 126.6 thousand tons (+29.3%), followed by the Philippines, with 126 thousand tons (+58.8%), Chile, with 87.5 thousand tons (+44.2%), Singapore, with 64.3 thousand tons (+16.2%), Uruguay, with 49.1 thousand tons (+11.9%), Vietnam, with 47.8 thousand tons (+4.8%) and Japan, with 40.3 thousand tons (+46.9%).

“The year 2023 ends for pork exports with the confirmation of a movement noted, in particular, throughout the second half of the year, due to the influence of the effects of the diversification of export destinations on the final result of the year," said Luís Rua, ABPA markets director. "This is especially true in relation to countries in Asia and the Americas."

Santa Catarina leads the year's shipments with 663.3 thousand tons (+10.05%), followed by Rio Grande do Sul, with 280.9 thousand tons (+5.07%). Paraná, with 169.9 thousand tons (7.61%), Mato Grosso, with 31.1 thousand tons (+44.1%) and Mato Grosso do Sul, with 24.8 thousand tons (+19.44%) .