Brazil: Livestock and Products Semi-annual
Post forecasts both beef and pork production to increase in 2017 to 9.6 million metric tons and 3.8 million metric tons, respectively. The increase in production is driven by higher exports, mostly to Asian markets, such as China and Hong Kong, and a small expansion in domestic demand for animal protein supported by the recovery of the Brazilian economy. Although producers and packers are benefiting from lower feed costs in 2017 due to record corn and soybean crops, some uncertainty remains regarding the current appreciation of the Brazilian currency which could affect their profit margins.
