Latin America produces nearly a third of the world's chicken meat
Regional output up 40% since 2010, outpacing global growth rate
20 July 2026
1 minute read
By: Latin America and the Caribbean produced 31.5 million tonnes of chicken meat in 2025, equivalent to 29.4% of world production and 57.6% of all production in the Americas, according to the 2026 Chicken Meat Report published by the Latin American Chicken Institute.
Production in the region grew 40.4% between 2010 and 2025, rising from 22.5 million to 31.5 million tonnes, outpacing both global growth of 35.8% and growth across the Americas as a whole of 36.1%.
Latin America is also a major force in international trade. Exports reached approximately 5.74 million tonnes in 2025, accounting for 39.4% of world exports and 64.6% of all shipments from the Americas.
Despite its export strength, most of the region's production is consumed domestically. Consumption reached 27.4 million tonnes in 2025, with per capita consumption averaging approximately 41 kilograms per year.
"Latin American Chicken Day is an opportunity to recognize the thousands of families who work daily in this production chain, facing great challenges, and making it possible for hundreds of millions of people to have access to a quality protein, fundamental for food security," said Maria del Rosario Penedo de Falla, president of the Latin American Poultry Association.
The figures were released to mark Latin American Chicken Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday of July.
Melanie Epp
Melanie Epp is a freelance agricultural journalist from Ontario, Canada.
