The Outputs and International Competitiveness of Livestock Products in the BRICS: A Comparative Analysis

For the past few years, the outputs and trade volumes of livestock products in the BRICS had been kept on growing. Based on the comparative analysis of the BRICS’ livestock production, this paper made use of Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (RCA) and Trade Special Coefficient (TC) to measure the comparative advantage and trade competition advantage of livestock products in the BRICS. The results showed that BRICS’ livestock outputs and trade volumes increased and their trade statuses gradually changed. Brazil and India had been operating well as exporters, while Russia and China run more obvious trade deficits. The BRICS had strong comparative advantages and competitiveness in HS02 (meat and edible offal) and HS16 (meat, fish and other aquatic invertebrates products); while their advantages in HS05 (other animal products) and HS51 (animal furs) were relatively weak.