Despite the retraction of the foreign market, shipments of chicken to the Middle East are still rising. Brazil exported 914,000 tonnes to the region in the first eight months of 2009, growth of 20.6 per cent over the same period last year. The figures were disclosed on 14 September by the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef).

The Brazil-Arab News Agency reports that this performance maintained the Middle East as the main market for Brazilian chicken, as, in total, foreign sales dropped three per cent in the period from January to August and totalled 2.4 million tonnes.

In terms of revenues, exports to the Arabs generated US$ 1.3 billion, a reduction of 7.5 per cent over the first eight months of 2008. In total sales, the reduction was even greater, 21 per cent with sales totalling US$ 3.7 billion.

In the second place among the main markets for Brazil were the Asian countries, with imports of 622,000 tonnes and revenues of US$ 968 million. Then came the European Union, with 345,000 tonnes and revenues of US$ 790 million. To Africa, the shipments generated US$ 269 million and to the North American continent, US$ 307 million.

In August, exports of Brazilian chicken totalled US$ 522 million, retraction of 24 per cent over August last year. Shipments totalled 301,000 tonnes, 6.6 per cent less in the same comparison.

The market in the Middle East imported 115,000 tonnes and generated revenues of US$ 185 million in August. To Asia, shipments totalled 68,000 tonnes, and revenues reached US$ 109 million. To the European Union, in turn, exports totalled US$ 129 million, with shipments of 49,000 tonnes.