São Paulo, 4/20/2004 (Agência Brasil) - Brazilian chicken exports rose 9.3% in first quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year. As if that was not enough good news, revenue from chicken exports jumped over 45% as well, because of an increase of 34.5% in chicken meat prices on international markets.

March chicken export revenue was up a strong 70.6%, compared to March 2003.

Brazilian chicken exports to Japan in the first quarter reached 68,000 tons, up 85% over the same period last year.

On the other hand, chicken exports to Europe, where they face a 75% surtax on some cuts (breast, for example), resulted in a drop of 58% in sales to Germany. And in Russia, a quota system caused a drop of 78% in orders of Brazilian chicken.

Translator: Allen Bennett