Last year consumption was at 41.8kg per person per year, with this year’s figure predicted at 43kg – up 2.8%. The poultry industry is said to have benefited from the high prices seen in the beef industry, but consumption is still lower than the 45kg per capita recorded in 2012.
Francisco Turra told journalists in a meeting last week: "Consumption growth took a lot because we were benefited by the high prices of beef," adding that further growth was stifled by the "recessive means" of the economy.
According to the vice-president of poultry at ABPA, Richard Santin, high production will be absorbed in the local market and in export markets, driven by China and Russia.
The organisation said the poultry industry was optimistic about next year and estimated that domestic production would grow by between 3-4%, with beef prices expected to continue, further supporting the growth of the poultry industry. Production totalled 12.6m tons in 2014 – an increase of 2.8%, estimated ABPA.
Santin said the per capita consumption of chicken would increase because the price of beef would continue to be high on many levels.
He highlighted promising prospects for sales of poultry meat to China, following the qualification of seven poultry plants and one pig meat plant for export.
ABPA has estimated that Brazilian exports of chicken meat will increase 3-4% in 2015.