Brazil's pork exports fell 25 percent to 66,843 tons in July from 90,246 tons in the same period in 2020, with China remaining the biggest buyer, according to a preliminary survey released by the Ministry of Economy on Tuesday.



According to CanalRural, Allan Maia, an analyst at Safras & Mercado, an agricultural consultancy, said that despite the decline, Brazil's pork exports are expected to continue to perform well this year.



"The preliminary findings are consistent with the trend we have been monitoring in recent months, which is that pork exports are likely to break through the 103,000 tonne/month mark," Mr Maia stressed. Of note is the fall in the average price per ton of pork. The change came after the renegotiation with Chinese traders this month.



Data show that China remains the main export market for Brazilian pork. Of the more than 66,000 tonnes of pork exported in July, about 50,000 tonnes were destined for China, analysts said.



News of an increase in ASF cases in China has had no impact on the international pork market, according to Maia. "Today's market situation may have come about because the Chinese government has effectively brought the Outbreak of ASFV under control," the analysts said. According to the local government, the pig population has recovered to the level we observed in 2017."



Mr Maia reckons that the only thing that could slow Brazil's exports at the moment is falling pork prices in China. He concluded: "The high demand for pork in China will continue until the end of this year. Especially now, with news that the U.S. is suspending sales of pork to overseas markets in favor of securing local supplies."