Brazil: Livestock and Products Annual
Post forecasts beef production in 2019 at 10.2 million metric tons, which is an increase of 3 percent. The increase is driven by solid exports, mostly to China and Hong Kong and moderate domestic demand. Posts also forecasts pork production to increase by over 3 percent and reach nearly 3.8 million metric tons, reflecting a rebound in exports, moderate domestic demand and favorable feed costs in 2019. The expected growth of the Brazilian economy in 2019, with declining inflation and unemployment rates support optimism in the animal protein sector in Brazil. Major uncertainties in the near future include the volatility of the exchange rate, end of the year elections and a new federal administration in 2019.