SAO PAULO, March 21 (Reuters) - Brazilian food processor JBS SA, which operates multiple facilities in the United States, posted net income of 6.473 billion reais ($1.31 billion) in the final quarter of 2021, beating a median analyst estimate of a 5.8 billion reais gain, according to an earnings statement on Monday.

The company, which continues to benefit from strong demand for meat products in China, also said adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, a measure of operating income known as EBITDA, stood at 13.15 billion reais in the period, compared with a median forecast of 10.2 billion reais. ($1 = 4.9444 reais) (Reporting by Ana Mano and Nayara Figueiredo in São Paulo; Editing by Chris Reese)