Brazilian pork exports hit 1.097 mln tons in 2022

Brazilian pork exports closed 2022 with positive numbers, despite the slight decline in comparison to the year earlier. In December, Brazil exported 100,836 thousand tons (including fresh and processed products), an increase of 14.82% compared to the same month of 2021. The average price per ton was USD 2,485.39, the second-highest level of the year. Total revenue was USD 250.6 mln, second only to August, when it reached USD 266.3 mln.

China’s numbers drew attention, advancing in volume and price. In December, there were 53,581 thousand tons were exported to China, which corresponds to a share of 53.14%. The Chinese paid an average of USD 2,715.91 per ton, the highest level since June 2021. The data are positive, but they bring a warning sign, considering that Brazil once again depended more on this destination. Unfavorable conditions in the Chinese market can bring a negative environment for shipments and trading of live pigs in the domestic market. Another point worth mentioning is that the pace of exports to other relevant destinations has shrunk, as is the case of the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Philippines, which emerged in a few months as the second-largest importer from Brazil, retreated to the 8th position in December, with only 2,343 thousand tons. Vietnam, which had been buying 4 to 6 thousand tons of frozen pork a month, registered only 1.6 thousand tons in December. The second largest importer in December was Hong Kong, with 8.1 thousand tons, and the third-largest was Chile, with 5.8 thousand tons.

With the figures for December, Brazilian exports closed 2022 at 1.097 mln tons, a decrease of 1.44% compared to the 1.113 mln tons registered in 2021. Total revenue for 2022 was USD 2.538 bln, down 2.66% from the year earlier, when it stood at USD 2.607 bln.

Tags: pork, price, Philippines, Brazil, Vietnam, volume, live pigs, China, exports, domestic market