“Being vigilant and investing in biosecurity practices and protocols is critical to addressing present and future challenges in the poultry industry…”
Érico Pozzer is the president of the Associação Paulista de Avicultura (São Paulo Poultry Association) – APA and director of the Holambra Livestock Cooperative.
José Roberto Bottura is the technical director of APA and has a degree in veterinary medicine from São Paulo State University.
Arthur Rodrigo Ribeiro is a communications advisor at APA and has a degree in communication from the University of Sorocaba.
Érico Pozzer, president of APA
AgriBrasilis – How does the egg production of Brazil and the State of São Paulo in 2023 compare to previous years? Were there any specific factors that drove the increase in production?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – We observed that in 2022 the State of São Paulo produced 1.53 million tonnes of chicken meat. This production represents 11.9% of the national total, giving it the fourth position in the national ranking of broiler poultry.
São Paulo holds the title of the largest producer of commercial eggs in the country, reaching the mark of 16.3 billion eggs annually (44.7 million per day) and housing 31.1% of the commercial layers, totaling 58 million birds.
Poultry farming, a notoriously resilient sector, has faced significant challenges stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic. This period has considerably increased production costs, especially in inputs that make up the most expensive portion of production, such as animal feed. In response to this situation, beef and laying farms have organized themselves to mitigate the adverse impacts.
José Bottura, technical director of APA
After the pandemic, even considering rising prices of frozen and chilled chicken, the broiler poultry industry is striving to recover the accumulated losses, as evidenced in the graph below.
Arthur Rodrigo Ribeiro, communications advisor at APA
The war in Ukraine has also hampered the pace of recovery, again resulting in adjustments in the maintenance of chicken housing, a scenario that has had similar effects on the egg production chain.
The increase in prices, observed from April to July, provided relief to poultry farmers, allowing them to amortize the losses resulting from the increases, scarcity and fluctuations of raw materials for poultry feed. However, in September of this year, the sector began to experience the return of the bearish cycle.
In any case, poultry farming in São Paulo remains integrated and constitutes the link of agribusiness, a sector of great expression for the maintenance of the country’s surplus. From January to September 2023, Brazil’s trade surplus reached US$ 71.3 billion, driven by our commodities.
AgriBrasilis – What marketing or promotion strategies have been implemented to promote egg protein in 2023? Has this had a positive impact on domestic sales and consumption?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – In recent years, APA has played a crucial role on several fronts to promote the sustainable development of the sector, aiming at the sustainable future of chicken meat and egg production. As the XX Congress of Production and Commercialization of Eggs, with the support of the Coordination of Agricultural Defense (CDA), is a remarkable meeting that brought together poultry farmers from different regions of the country.
In addition, the mobilization to support industrial poultry farming in São Paulo, exemplified by the renewal of the Term of Collaboration in Health Defense with the CDA. This act continues the actions of the State Poultry Health Program in the State of São Paulo, whose objective is to maintain the health status of poultry farms in the state through guidance and collection of samples of the agents of the main diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
AgriBrasilis – What are the expectations for the egg industry in São Paulo in 2024? Is production and exports expected to continue growing?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – We believe that the market will continue to face significant pressures, driven by both geopolitical issues and the presence of HPAI.
Brazilian egg exports, according to data from the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein, ended the year of 2023 with a total of 25.4 thousand tonnes shipped, representing an increase of 168.1% compared to the same period of the previous year, which registered 9.5 thousand tonnes. In terms of revenue, the growth reached 182% compared to 2022, totaling US$ 63.2 million in 2023.
In addition, the excellent performance of the international trade of eggs produced by the Brazilian laying poultry industry is highlighted. In 2023, Japan stood out as the major buyer, purchasing a total of 10.3 thousand tonnes, marking a significant increase of 848.5% compared to the previous year. Next, Taiwan recorded 5.3 thousand tonnes (no comparative data in 2022), followed by Chile, with 2.8 thousand tonnes and a notable increase of 1,302.3%. These numbers reflect the vigor and expansion of the sector on the international scene.
AgriBrasilis – Have there been any significant challenges facing the egg industry in 2023? How is the industry adapting to these challenges?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – The constant and priority challenge is biosecurity. Biosecurity is arguably the greatest asset of our sector and its preservation not only protects the health and well-being of birds, but also ensures the sustainability and continuity of poultry production. Being vigilant and investing in biosecurity practices and protocols is critical to addressing present and future challenges in the poultry industry.
In addition, the focus is directed to the monitoring, control and support of farms in São Paulo due to the presence of HPAI. In collaboration with the Agricultural Defense Coordination of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, we are intensifying technical actions aimed at the biosecurity of poultry houses.
AgriBrasilis – How is the egg industry preparing to meet evolving market demands in 2024?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – We are well-positioned to meet and adjust demand. We have an organized sector, access to the latest technologies, robust industries, reference research centers, renowned universities and highly qualified professionals. With all these resources and the inherent resilience of São Paulo’s poultry farmers, we have the ability to go further, facing challenges and exploring new opportunities for the sustainable growth of the sector.
AgriBrasilis – Are there any government regulations or policies that have influenced egg production, exports, or marketing in 2023 that could impact the industry in 2024?
Pozzer, Bottura, Ribeiro – There is the “Exporta Mais Brasil” (Export More Brazil) Program of Apex-Brasil (Brasília/DF) as an important ally and stimulus for the chicken meat production industry, eggs and other products. Through this initiative, the sector is being stimulated to increase the international trade of these products, acting in the promotion of them and in the qualification of companies that aim to expand and seek commercialization to other countries.
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