October 8, 2013
Brazil's pig meat industry rises as production costs drop
Brazil's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Antonio Andrade said that the country will soon become the world's largest producer of pig meat as its current harvest should exceed 200 million tonnes.
Andrade underlined the importance of the increase in domestic consumption of pork. He also said that after the fall in cost of production in 2012 and earlier this year, the sector has again risen.
Currently, pig meat comprises the largest export sector in Brazilian agribusiness. In August of this year, pork revenues stood at US$132 million, exporting 52,000 tonnes.
National Pork Week, which took place on October 2, was created to promote pork consumption and bring sustainability to the sector, which directly employs over 700,000 people.
The Brazilian Association of Swine Breeders (ABCS) wants to increase the consumption of pork at 18 kilogrammes per capita by 2015 because its present consumption is 15.6 kilogrammes per capita only, while the average consumption in the US and in European countries is more than 30 kilogrammes.