Brazil’s Chicken Exports Soar 13.6% as Global Avian Flu Creates Market Opportunity

The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) announced that Brazil’s chicken meat exports reached 911,400 tons in January and February 2025.

This volume represents a significant 13.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Revenue growth outpaced volume, climbing 22% to reach US$1.69 billion during the first two months of the year.

February proved especially strong with exports totaling 468,400 tons, a 17.9% jump from last year. This performance marked the best February on record for Brazilian chicken exports.

China maintained its position as the leading destination, receiving 49,600 tons in February alone, a 18.1% increase year-on-year. Brazil continues to benefit from its status as the world’s largest chicken meat exporter.

The country remains free of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms, a critical advantage in the global market. Meanwhile, over 34 countries have reported avian flu outbreaks since January 1, disrupting competitive supply chains.

Several markets showed remarkable growth in Brazilian chicken imports. Mexico increased purchases by 272.3% to 20,900 tons, while South Africa imported 24,500 tons, up 36.1%. South Korea, the European Union, and the Philippines also boosted their imports significantly.

Brazil Poised to Exceed Chicken Export Projections in 2025

Some traditional buyers reduced their imports, including Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA, expressed optimism about exceeding initial projections.

The association originally forecast exports would reach 5.4 million tons in 2025, representing a 1.9% increase over 2024’s record 5.294 million tons. The strong performance in early 2025 suggests this target will be surpassed.

The global chicken meat export market is expected to grow by 2% in 2025, reaching a record 13.8 million tons. Brazil appears positioned to capture much of this growth.

Production costs remain manageable despite some increases in feed prices, with corn production potentially exceeding 130 million tons in the 2024/25 harvest. For domestic consumption, Brazil’s total chicken meat production should reach approximately 15.3 million tons in 2025.

This volume would support an expected increase in per capita consumption to 46 kilograms, up from 45.6 kilograms in 2024, maintaining chicken as a leading protein choice for Brazilian consumers.

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