Source: Bob Moser, MEATINGPLACE, 11/14/11

The Russian embargo on Brazilian meat continued to negatively impact pork exports in October, playing a major role in a 7 percent year-on-year drop for pork shipments in October, according to figures released Nov. 8 by the industry's producers and exporters association, Abipecs.

Brazil's pork exports in October totaled 46,200 tons, down from 49,700 tons shipped during the same month in 2010. Despite the volume drop, export revenues rose 8.64 percent in October, from US$124.48 million a year ago to US$135.24 million last month.

Pork's average export price also rose in October, to US$2,927 per ton, up 16.9 percent year-on-year.
Through the first 10 months of 2011, Brazilian pork exports have totaled 436,449 tons, down 5.51 percent from the same period a year ago. However, revenues this year are up 5.88 percent, to US$1.133 billion, Abipecs said.

By the end of this year, Hong Kong should become the leading export market for Brazilian pork, surpassing Russia and its now five-month-long ban on various Brazilian meat imports, said Pedro de Camargo Neto, Abipecs president.

Total pork exports to Hong Kong have risen 32.42 percent so far this year, to 107,500 tons. Abipecs also reported sales growth to Ukraine (43.63 percent), Angola (9.82 percent), Uruguay (27.48 percent), Albania (72.37 percent), Venezuela (242.8 percent) and Haiti (44 percent).

Through the first 10 months of this year, pork exports to Russia were down 120,730 tons, a drop of 41.56 percent from last year.

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