The meat industry is gaining ground in the international market and Santa Catarina is expanding sales to China and Hong Kong. In March, the two countries were the main destinations for meats produced in the State and guaranteed the increase in sales with exports. Last month, international sales of pork and chicken generated revenue of $ 194.9 million.
In March, Santa Catarina exported 83.6 thousand tons of chicken meat, earning US $ 143.9 million, an increase of 23.7% over February. The positive result can be explained by increased sales to China, Hong Kong and Mexico. The three countries are on the list of the ten main buyers of Santa Catarina’s chicken meat and, together, accounted for 22.7% of the value of exports. In the year, Santa Catarina already received US $ 380.3 million for the sale of 219.4 thousand tons of chicken meat. The performance is 12.7% lower than that observed in the same period of 2017.
According to the Secretary of Agriculture and Fisheries, Airton Spies, meats continue being the main product of the agenda of exports of the Santa Catarina agribusiness. “Expectations are of the return of chicken exports to the European Union in the coming months and a likely increase in purchases from China as a result of increased taxation on American pork,” he points out.
Pig meat
International sales of pork also continue to grow. In March, 25.5 thousand tons of the product were shipped, with revenues going from US $ 51 million (28% and 22.2% more than in February). The main market for pork from Santa Catarina is China, which expanded its product purchases by 108.9% in relation to March 2017.
Last month, the country imported 9,600 tonnes of pork – 109.8% more than last year. Hong Kong and Chile also increased purchases and eventually minimized the impact of Russia’s temporary embargo on Brazilian meat.
By 2018, the state has already exported 70.6 thousand tons of pork, with revenues of more than US $ 144 million. The figures are lower than those recorded in the first months of 2017. The revenue was 10.5% lower and the amount fell by 1.53%.
“The first three months of the year were turbulent for the external meat market, but with the end of the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the demand is likely to increase, rebalancing Santa Catarina production,” explains Airton Spies. The secretary also points out that the animal protein is the flagship of Catarin’s agriculture and accounts for 60% of the sector’s GDP.