Brazilian pork exports - fresh and processed - are expected to increase by 9.6% in 2023, according to surveys by the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). In total, 1.013 million tons were shipped between January and October this year, compared to 924.2 thousand tons registered in the same period last year.

Revenue saw an increase of 13.1%, with US$2.361 billion in the first ten months of 2023, against US$2.088 billion in the same comparative period of the previous year.

In October, pork exports reached 93 thousand tons, down 5.7% from the total shipped in the same period last year, with 98.6 thousand tons. Revenue recorded in the month reached US$200.3 million, a balance 15.5% lower than the total recorded in the previous year, with US$237.1 million. 

China remains the leading destination for Brazilian pork, with 336.5 thousand tons exported between January and October, 8% lower than the total recorded in the first 10 months of 2022. Next are Hong Kong, with 101, 3 thousand tons (+23%), Philippines, also with 101.3 thousand tons (+40%), Chile, with 69.1 thousand tons (+47%), Singapore, with 53.4 thousand tons (+12% ) and Vietnam, with 41.9 thousand tons.

“With this accumulated performance, which has already exceeded one million tons in the first 10 months of the year alone, sector projections maintain shipments of around 1.2 million tons in 2023," said Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA. "The greater diversification of markets beyond from China, with the possibility of exports to other destinations with good demand, such as Mexico, support good prospects for this and next year."

Santa Catarina, the main pork exporting state in Brazil, shipped 542.7 tons between January and October, up 8.9% over the same period in 2022. Next are Rio Grande do Sul, with 235.7 thousand tons (+9.6%), Paraná, with 141.7 thousand tons (+5.2%), Mato Grosso, with 24.8 thousand tons (+39.2%) and Mato Grosso do Sul, with 21.5 thousand tons (+29.8%).

“In addition to the opening of five new relevant markets in 2023, countries such as Chile and the Philippines have been demanding more Brazilian protein," said Luís Rua, markets director at ABPA. "Added to this is the increase in exports to Japan and Korea, consolidating Brazil as an important supplier in what are perhaps the most value-added markets today."