Brazilian pork exports, including fresh and processed products, totalled 91.9 thousand tons in March, according to a recent market report from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). The number is 14% lower than the total shipped in the same period last year, with 106.9 thousand tons.

In the same period, revenue generated by shipments totaled US$192.8 million, a balance 22.5% lower than the balance realized in March 2023, with US$248.9 million.

In the quarter, pork exports totaled 289.4 thousand tons, a volume 5.3% higher than that recorded between January and March 2023, with 274.8 thousand tons. In the same comparative period, the balance of exports reached US$597.7 million, a number 7.5% lower than that recorded in the first three months of last year, with US$646.3 million.

“Despite the specific decline in March, total shipments for the year remain at levels above those recorded in the same period last year. It is an important indication of the maintenance of positive perspectives for the year, especially with the consolidation of recently opened or expanded markets for Brazil," said Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA.

The main destination for exports in the sector, China imported 19.3 thousand tons in March, a volume 46.8% lower than the total shipped in the same month of 2023. Next are the Philippines, with 14.6 thousand tons (+54, 8%) and Hong Kong, with 7.4 thousand tons (-44%).

Among the exporting states, Santa Catarina remains in the lead, with 53.9 thousand tons shipped in March (-6.2%), followed by Rio Grande do Sul, with 18.7 thousand tons (-27.8%) and Paraná , with 10.2 thousand tons (-31.6%).

“Pork shipments have been experiencing comparative increases of over 100% in sales to high value-added markets, such as Japan, the United States, Canada and the Philippines," said Luís Rua, marketing manager for ABPA. "It is an important expansion of the diversification of export destinations, at a time when China has been purchasing smaller volumes from its suppliers."

"In the case of the Philippine market, which is already the second largest importer, we expect to see even more expressive numbers in the coming months, after the recent establishment of the accreditation of the Brazilian system by the authorities of the Asian country," he added.