Move over, world – Brazil is absolutely sizzling as a pork powerhouse, producing a record-breaking 4.9 million tons in 2023 to feed both its thriving domestic market and dozens of hungry nations across the globe.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Brazil's pork production reached 4,927 thousand tons, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022
- Brazil slaughtered 47.2 million heads of pigs in 2023, up 4.8% year-over-year
- The state of Paraná accounted for 28.5% of Brazil's total pork production in 2023 with 1,404 thousand tons
- Brazil exported 1,342 thousand tons of pork in 2023, a 12.4% increase from 2022
- China imported 842 thousand tons of Brazilian pork in 2023, representing 62.8% of total exports
- Pork exports to the Philippines reached 156 thousand tons from Brazil in 2023
- Brazil's per capita pork consumption was 16.2 kg in 2023
- Total domestic pork consumption in Brazil: 3,612 thousand tons in 2023
- Pork's share in Brazilian meat consumption: 12.4% in 2023
- Brazil pork industry generated R$45.2 billion in revenue in 2023
- Pork sector contributed 1.2% to Brazil's agribusiness GDP in 2023
- Total employment in Brazilian pork chain: 1.2 million jobs in 2023
- Brazil's pork industry GHG emissions: 4.2 million tons CO2eq in 2023
- Antibiotic use in Brazilian pork production: reduced 18% to 145 mg/kg in 2023
- Pork farms with environmental certification: 56% in 2023
Brazil's pork industry set new production and export records in 2023.
Domestic Consumption
1Brazil's per capita pork consumption was 16.2 kg in 2023
Verified2Total domestic pork consumption in Brazil: 3,612 thousand tons in 2023
Verified3Pork's share in Brazilian meat consumption: 12.4% in 2023
Verified4Urban per capita pork intake: 17.8 kg/year in Brazil 2023
Directional5Rural per capita pork consumption: 14.3 kg/year in 2023
Single source6Fresh pork consumption: 2,145 thousand tons in Brazil 2023
Verified7Processed pork products consumed: 1,467 thousand tons in 2023
Verified8Pork sausage consumption: 456 thousand tons in Brazil 2023
Verified9Ham and bacon domestic sales: 234 thousand tons in 2023
Directional10Pork ribs consumption growth: 8.2% in 2023
Single source11Southeast Brazil pork consumption: 1,456 thousand tons in 2023
Verified12Per capita consumption in Paraná: 25.6 kg in 2023
Verified13National pork consumption growth: 3.9% from 2022 in 2023
Verified14Pork in food service sector: 23% of total meat use in 2023
Directional15Retail pork sales volume: 2,890 thousand tons in 2023
Single source16Pork loin domestic demand: 345 thousand tons in 2023
Verified17Pork tenderloin consumption: 89 thousand tons in Brazil 2023
Verified18Holiday pork consumption spike: 15% in December 2023
Verified19Pork in Brazilian diets: 18% protein source in 2023 surveys
Directional20Youth consumption (18-34): 19.2 kg/capita pork in 2023
Single source21Elderly (65+) pork intake: 12.8 kg/capita in 2023
Verified22Vegan/vegetarian impact reduced pork share by 2.1% in 2023
Verified23Pork consumption in Northeast: 8.9 kg/capita in 2023
Verified24South region per capita: 28.4 kg pork in 2023
DirectionalDomestic Consumption Interpretation
Brazil is clearly a nation where pork reigns supreme—not just on the holiday plate with a 15% December spike, but from the sausage-loved south at 28.4 kg per person to the loin-loving youth, proving that when it comes to meat, this is a country firmly in the hog's embrace.
Exports and Trade
1Brazil exported 1,342 thousand tons of pork in 2023, a 12.4% increase from 2022
Verified2China imported 842 thousand tons of Brazilian pork in 2023, representing 62.8% of total exports
Verified3Pork exports to the Philippines reached 156 thousand tons from Brazil in 2023
Verified4Brazil's pork export value was US$3.45 billion in 2023
Directional5Exports to Hong Kong: 98 thousand tons of Brazilian pork in 2023
Single source6Number of Brazilian pork-exporting countries: 78 in 2023
Verified7Pork export volume to Russia: 45 thousand tons in 2023
Verified8Average export price of Brazilian pork: US$2.57/kg in 2023
Verified9Fresh/chilled pork exports: 456 thousand tons from Brazil in 2023
Directional10Frozen pork exports: 886 thousand tons in 2023
Single source11Pork exports to Vietnam: 112 thousand tons in 2023
Verified12Brazil's share of global pork exports: 22.5% in 2023
Verified13Pork belly exports from Brazil: 234 thousand tons in 2023
Verified14Export growth to Mexico: 28% for Brazilian pork in 2023
Directional15Pork exports to the EU: 12 thousand tons in 2023
Single source16Singapore imported 34 thousand tons of Brazilian pork in 2023
Verified17Brazil's pork export destinations in Asia: 92% of total in 2023
Verified18Pork export revenue per ton: US$2,572 in 2023
Verified19Exports to Chile: 67 thousand tons of pork from Brazil in 2023
Directional20Pork imports into Brazil: only 23 thousand tons in 2023
Single source21Main pork import sources: Argentina (45%) and USA (32%) in 2023
Verified22Pork imports value: US$67 million in 2023
Verified23Brazilian pork exporters number: 156 companies in 2023
Verified24Pork trade balance surplus: US$3.38 billion in 2023
Directional25Exports to South Korea: 56 thousand tons in 2023
Single source26Cumulative pork exports Jan-Nov 2023: 1,289 thousand tons
Verified27Pork export share to China peaked at 65% in Q4 2023
VerifiedExports and Trade Interpretation
With a nearly $3.4 billion trade surplus built on 62.8% dependency on a single, voracious customer in China, Brazil's pork industry is living a high-wire act of glorious, bacon-scented prosperity, precariously balanced over a pit of geopolitical whim.
Industry Economics
1Brazil pork industry generated R$45.2 billion in revenue in 2023
Verified2Pork sector contributed 1.2% to Brazil's agribusiness GDP in 2023
Verified3Total employment in Brazilian pork chain: 1.2 million jobs in 2023
Verified4Direct jobs in pork production: 245,000 in 2023
Directional5Average salary in pork slaughterhouses: R$2,890/month in 2023
Single source6Investment in pork sector: R$4.1 billion in 2023
Verified7Pork export revenue share of agribusiness: 4.8% in 2023
Verified8Farmgate pork value: R$18.7 billion in 2023
Verified9Processing industry revenue: R$26.5 billion from pork in 2023
Directional10Pork taxes paid to government: R$5.6 billion in 2023
Single source11ROI for pork producers: 14.2% average in 2023
Verified12Cost of production per kg live weight: R$7.23 in 2023
Verified13Profit margin for processors: 8.7% in 2023
Verified14Number of pork farms: 78,000 in Brazil 2023
Directional15Large-scale farms (>1,000 heads): 2,450 in 2023
Single source16Feed costs represent 72% of total pork production costs in 2023
Verified17Labor costs in pork industry: 12% of total expenses in 2023
Verified18Energy costs for slaughterhouses: R$1.2 billion in 2023
Verified19Pork sector R&D investment: R$450 million in 2023
Directional20Insurance coverage for pork farms: 65% penetration in 2023
Single source21Bank financing for pork: R$12.3 billion disbursed in 2023
Verified22Pork industry multiplier effect on economy: 2.8x GDP contribution in 2023
VerifiedIndustry Economics Interpretation
While it may not be glamorous, Brazil’s pork industry in 2023 proved it's no piggy bank, generating R$45.2 billion in revenue, providing 1.2 million jobs, and cleverly using an army of 78,000 farms to make an economic multiplier of 2.8x look surprisingly easy.
Production and Output
1In 2023, Brazil's pork production reached 4,927 thousand tons, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022
Verified2Brazil slaughtered 47.2 million heads of pigs in 2023, up 4.8% year-over-year
Verified3The state of Paraná accounted for 28.5% of Brazil's total pork production in 2023 with 1,404 thousand tons
Verified4Santa Catarina produced 1,123 thousand tons of pork in 2023, representing 22.8% of national output
Directional5Rio Grande do Sul contributed 912 thousand tons to pork production in 2023, or 18.5% of the total
Single source6Brazil's pig herd totaled 42.3 million heads at the end of 2023, a 3.1% growth
Verified7Average live weight of pigs at slaughter in Brazil was 115.2 kg in 2023
Verified8Pork carcass yield in Brazil averaged 84.3% in 2023 across major slaughterhouses
Verified9Brazil produced 1,248 thousand tons of fresh pork in 2023
Directional10Processed pork output reached 856 thousand tons in Brazil during 2023
Single source11Female pig breeding stock in Brazil numbered 6.8 million heads in 2023
Verified12Brazil's pork production per pig slaughtered averaged 104.5 kg in 2023
Verified13The Southeast region produced 456 thousand tons of pork in 2023
Verified14Mato Grosso do Sul's pork output was 234 thousand tons in 2023
Directional15Brazil's largest pork processor, BRF, produced 1.2 million tons equivalent in 2023
Single source16JBS's pork division in Brazil output 850 thousand tons in 2023
Verified17Average daily slaughter capacity in Brazil's pork plants was 145,000 heads in 2023
Verified18Brazil invested R$2.8 billion in pork production infrastructure in 2023
Verified19Piglet production in Brazil reached 58.4 million units in 2023
Directional20Feed conversion ratio for Brazilian pigs improved to 2.65 kg/kg in 2023
Single source21Minas Gerais pork production hit 189 thousand tons in 2023
Verified22São Paulo state produced 167 thousand tons of pork in 2023
Verified23Brazil's pork production growth rate was 4.7% from 2022 to 2023
Verified24Number of pork slaughterhouses in Brazil: 1,234 in 2023
Directional25Average pig price at farmgate was R$8.45/kg live weight in 2023
Single source26Brazil's self-sufficiency in pork reached 105% in 2023
Verified27Pork production in the North region was 45 thousand tons in 2023
Verified28Northeast Brazil pork output: 67 thousand tons in 2023
Verified29Central-West region's pork production: 612 thousand tons in 2023
DirectionalProduction and Output Interpretation
Brazil is feeding the world one pig at a time, with Paraná leading the charge and every part of the hog, from snout to tail, being optimized for maximum output, proving they've turned pork into a serious science and a booming business.
Sustainability and Health
1Brazil's pork industry GHG emissions: 4.2 million tons CO2eq in 2023
Verified2Antibiotic use in Brazilian pork production: reduced 18% to 145 mg/kg in 2023
Verified3Pork farms with environmental certification: 56% in 2023
Verified4Water usage per kg pork: 4,500 liters in Brazil 2023
Directional5Renewable energy in pork plants: 42% of total use in 2023
Single source6Salmonella prevalence in Brazilian pork: 1.2% at slaughter in 2023
Verified7Pork traceability systems coverage: 89% of production in 2023
Verified8Manure management compliance: 92% of farms in 2023
Verified9Biosecurity level 3 farms: 67% in pork sector 2023
Directional10Pork export compliance with Chinese standards: 100% audited farms in 2023
Single source11Animal welfare certification (GlobalG.A.P.): 34% of producers in 2023
Verified12Deforestation linked to pork feed: 0.3% of soy area in 2023
Verified13Carbon footprint per kg pork: 3.8 kg CO2eq in 2023
Verified14Vaccination coverage against Aujeszky disease: 99.8% in 2023
Directional15PRRS-free herds: 78% in major states in 2023
Single source16Waste recycling in pork processing: 76% rate in 2023
Verified17Organic pork production: 12 thousand tons in Brazil 2023
Verified18Mycotoxin control in feed: 95% compliance in 2023
Verified19E. coli O157:H7 incidence: 0.01% in samples 2023
Directional20Sustainable soy sourcing for feed: 92% certified in 2023
Single sourceSustainability and Health Interpretation
Brazil's pork industry is wrestling a greased pig of contradictions: it's slashing antibiotics and boosting renewables while guzzling water and churning out emissions, proving that even a 92% manure compliance rate doesn't mean the sector's sh*t doesn't stink.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ABPA-BRabpa-br.orgVisit source
- Reference 2IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 3ABPA-BRabpa-br.org.brVisit source
- Reference 4EMBRAPAembrapa.brVisit source
- Reference 5FAOfao.orgVisit source
- Reference 6USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 7RIri.brf-global.comVisit source
- Reference 8RIri.jbs.com.brVisit source
- Reference 9GOVgov.brVisit source
- Reference 10CEPEAcepea.esalq.usp.brVisit source