Brazil chicken exports rise despite mid-year slowdown
ABPA expects second-half rebound after AI disruption
21 July 2025
1 minute read
By: Brazilian chicken exports ended the first half of this year with a 0.5% increase in shipped volumes, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA). A total of 2.6 million tonnes were exported, 0.5% higher than the 2.588 million tonnes recorded in the same period last year.
The export balance in the first half of the year reached US$4.871 billion, a figure 5% higher than that recorded in the same period last year, which was US$4.636 billion.
In June, chicken meat exports reached 343,400 tonnes, a 21.2% decrease compared to the same period last year, when exports totalled 435,900 tonnes. Revenue generated in the period reached US$637 million, a 19.7% decrease compared to the same period last year, which reached US$793.6 million.
The ranking of the main destinations for Brazilian exports in the first half of the year is led by the United Arab Emirates, with 231.1 thousand tonnes (-3.7%), followed by China, with 228.6 thousand tonnes (-17.2%), Saudi Arabia, with 201.9 thousand tonnes (-2%), Japan, with 198.2 thousand tonnes (-7.5%) and South Africa, with 133.9 thousand tonnes (-20.3%), the European Union, with 125.3 thousand tonnes (+20.8%), the Philippines, with 122.8 thousand tonnes (+2.2%) and Mexico, with 89.9 thousand tonnes (+7.7%).
The main exporting state, Paraná, shipped 1.039 million tonnes in the first half of the year (-3.49% compared to the previous year), followed by Santa Catarina, with 573.3 thousand tonnes (+1.72%), Rio Grande do Sul, with 348.5 thousand tonnes (-1.62%), São Paulo, with 154 thousand tonnes (+12.4%) and Goiás, with 131.1 thousand tonnes (+4.2%).
"On the one hand, the balance recorded in May and June demonstrated a smaller real impact than previously speculated, with the suspensions resulting from the only identified and already resolved outbreak of avian influenza in commercial production," said ABPA president Ricardo Santin.
"Now, with the publication of Brazil's self-declaration as avian influenza-free with the World Organisation for Animal Health, most markets have resumed export flows, and others are expected to resume soon," he added. "Significant growth in shipment levels is expected in the second half of the year, expanding the positive result expected for this year."
