Brazilian poultry exports show marginal growth

However revenue from chicken meat fell 11.5%, to $1.705 billion.

Individual cuts of chicken remained the main export product, it said, with 500,900t shipped - an increase of 7% - while whole chicken represented 325,400t (-7.5%).

Ricardo Santin, vice president of ABPA, said: "The increase in sales of chicken cuts with higher average value mitigated the decline in revenue, adding more value to exports."

In terms of Brazil’s biggest export markets, the Middle East remaining its largest importer, taking 332,000t (-4.6%), with Asia importing 270,500t (+7.5%) of beef and chicken, and Africa importing 125,300t (1.7%).

Turkey meat saw shipments fall by 12% in the first three months of this year, with a total of 32,700t exported – a revenue drop of 16.5%.

Last month it was announced that the members of the Brazilian Poultry Association (UBABEF) and the Brazilian Pork Industry and Exporter Association (ABIPECS) had merged, to become the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA).

Former chief executive of UBABEF Francisco Turra, will take on the same position at ABPA, while there will be two vice-presidents: Ricardo Santin, who was formerly vice-president of UBABEF, is the new ABPA poultry vice-president; and Rui Eduardo Saldanha Vargas, former president of ABIPECS, will be ABPA’s vice-president for pork.

The organisation currently has 132 members, and is looking to boost this number to 150.

Turra said: "The goal was to build an organisation with even greater representation, which enables the creation of synergies and broadens the political and social role of the old associations."

Vargas added that the creation of the new organisation created a positive outlook for the pig sector in Brazil.