The figures, from the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), also indicate a decline of 31.7 per cent in revenue from shipments during the month, to $65,977,000.

In 2015 so far, the sector has fallen by 24 per cent compared to the performance of the first part of last year, with 54,500 tonnes.

There was also a decrease in revenue of 26 per cent, reaching a total of $138.3 million.

"In February, we were in a period of recovery of the levels of shipments. Unfortunately, we face logistical problems with roadblocks across the country, which caught the pace of exports. Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states are where most of the road blocs were and these states account for 81.5 per cent of shipments," said the chief executive of ABPA, Francisco Turra.