Brazil foresees surge in meat production and exports

Brazil is set to produce 29.6 million tons of beef, pork, and poultry this year, according to supply authority Conab.

Edegar Pretto, head of Conab, stated the rise in meat production should result in lower prices for Brazilians. “We expect that meat lovers should see an increase in animal protein on the Brazilian table, especially the beloved barbecue, which is not just a meal, but an integral part of our culture,” Pretto said in a radio interview for A Voz do Brasil.

The increase in production will be driven by pork, which is expected to reach 5.32 million tons in 2023, up 2.7 percent from last year. This is the highest volume ever recorded in the country.

Beef production should total some 9 million tons, up 4.5 percent. The increase was already expected due to the livestock cycle, with higher female slaughter leading to a larger supply of meat in the market.

As for poultry, the estimated output is 15.21 million tons, up 2.9 percent. The good production and reports of avian flu in Europe, Japan, and the US, for example, have raised demand for Brazilian meat. So far, the Latin American nation has remained free of the disease in commercial production.

Exports

The agency also forecasts record-breaking meat exports, upwards of 9 million tons. “The government is making a significant effort to boost our exports. Exporting more means producing more and generating more jobs,” Pretto argued.

In the case of pork, exports are expected to grow by 10.1 percent, adding up to 1.22 million tons.

As for poultry, external sales are projected to grow by approximately 10.2 percent, amount to a new record of 5.12 million tons.

Beef exports, however, are likely to slip 3.3 percent from last year, impacted by slower shipments in early 2023. The projected beef exports stand at 2.91 million tons.

According to Conab, despite the rise in exports, the availability of meat in the domestic market should rise 2.4 percent to 20.44 million tons, the second highest in this time series.