Record volume but lower value of poultry export from Brazil

The Brazilian export of chicken meat closed 2025 with a slight volume growth. Even the outbreak of both avian influenza and Newcastle disease did not change this. However, the growth is less strong than what was expected before the infections. According to figures from the Brazilian Association of Animal Proteins (ABPA), the export volume rose by 0.6% to 5.324 million tonnes, a new annual record. The growth was secured at the last moment by a strong finish in December. In that month, the export volume amounted to 510,800 tonnes, an increase of 13.9% compared to December 2024. This allowed the sector to compensate for a large part of the earlier disruptions during the year. Although the effects of the animal diseases have been manageable, the ultimate growth has turned out to be clearly lower than seemed the case before the infections. In the first half of the year, the country primarily benefited from the extreme global scarcity in the poultry meat market, which led to a 5% increase in exports compared to the previous year. In terms of revenue, however, there is a slight decline. Total export earnings in 2025 reached $9.79 billion, a decrease of 1.4% compared to the previous year. However, growth was achieved again in December. The export value rose by 10.6% to $947.9 million, indicating a recovery in volumes and pricing toward the end of the year. Known destinations When looking at the main destinations, there are few surprises. The United Arab Emirates remained the largest market for Brazilian chicken meat in 2025, with imports of 479,900 tonnes, an increase of 5.5% year-on-year. Japan followed with 402,900 tonnes, although the volume there decreased by 9.1%. Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the Philippines completed the top five, with the Philippines showing particularly strong growth (+12.5%). After the full resumption of export flows following the avian influenza outbreak, other markets also show recovery. Exports to the European Union increased by 52% in December, while China imported 21,200 tonnes again. According to ABPA, these figures underscore the expectation that the positive momentum will continue in 2026, supported by rising production and renewed market access.