São Paulo - Brazil is ending 2004 as the world leader in chicken exports, surpassing the United States. With only a few days left before the year is over, the Brazilian Association of Chicken Exporters (Abef) forecasts that, by the end of the year, the sector will have sold 2.4 million tons, 22% more than in 2003. Sales on the internaional market are expected to attain the mark of US$ 2.5 billion, 40% more than last year.

According to the Association, Brazil's world leadership is due to the broadening of the market, which now embraces 130 countries, and the 16% average increase in the price of a ton of chicken. The price increase, in turn, is the result of the rise in sales of products, such as cuts of chicken, with greater added value.

The Association represents twenty companies responsible for 75% of Brazil's production and 96% of the country's export production in the sector.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Elisângela Cordeiro
Translator: David Silberstein
12/13/2004