São Paulo – Brazilian chicken meat exports totaled 482,300 metric tons in September, down 0.6% compared to the same period last year. According to data released Tuesday (7) by Brazil’s chicken and pork lobby ABPA, shipments increased to South Africa, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, South Korea, Iraq, and Hong Kong. Sales to Iraq expanded for the second consecutive month: in September, 13,500 tons were exported, up 7.9% from September of last year.
In terms of value, overall exports reached USD 857.9 million, down 10.1%. Between January and September this year, 3.876 million tons of chicken meat were exported, a decrease of 1% compared to 2024. In value terms, exports for the year total US$ 7.1 billion, down 1.5%.
In May this year, there was a case of avian flu at a farm in Rio Grande do Sul, which led to the suspension of exports from the southern state in some cases, and from Brazil in others, affecting the sector’s performance. Most of the bans have already been lifted.
According to ABPA, Brazil’s top chicken meat importer in September was South Africa, with imports totaling 38,700 tons, up 35.9% compared to the same period in 2024. It was followed by the United Arab Emirates, with purchases totaling 37,200 tons (-10.2%), Mexico (37,100 tons, up 55.5%), Japan (36,400 tons, down 0.2%), and Saudi Arabia, with a 19.2% increase in purchases, reaching 35,700 tons. Iraq was the ninth-largest destination of shipments, and the third among Arab countries.
In the statement, ABPA president Ricardo Santin said that “there’re good expectations” for shipment performance to continue this October, now supported by the resumption of sales to the European Union, announced at the end of September. Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, and Goiás were the leading exporters.
Read more:
Brazil’s chicken meat exports hit record in 2024
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
