Brazil: Chicken meat shipments grow 5.3 percent in February
Brazilian chicken meat exports (considering all products, both fresh and processed) totaled 493,200 tons in February, according to the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA). This is the highest number ever recorded for the month of February, exceeding by 5.3% the total shipped in the same period last year, which was 468,400 tons.
The dollar balance is also the highest ever recorded for the month of February. In total, it reached US$945.4 million, a figure 8.6% higher than that achieved in the same period last year, which was US$870.4 million.
Year-to-date, the accumulated increase reaches 4.5%, with 952,300 tons shipped in the first two months of this year, compared to 911,400 tons in the same period last year. In terms of revenue, the comparative growth is 7.2%, with US$1.819 billion in 2026, compared to US$1.696 billion in the first two months of 2025. This is the best performance ever recorded in the period, both in volume and revenue.
Considering the data by country, China has regained its leadership in chicken meat exports. In total, 49,400 tons were exported in February, a figure only 0.4% lower than that recorded in the second month of 2025. Following are the United Arab Emirates, with 44,000 tons (+13.4%), Japan, with 38,200 tons (+38%), Saudi Arabia, with 33,800 tons (+7.3%), South Africa, with 31,300 tons (+27.6%), the European Union, with 30,100 tons (+46.3%), the Philippines, with 30,000 tons (+29.2%), South Korea, with 18,500 tons (+2.4%), Mexico, with 15,800 tons (-24.3%), and Singapore, with 15,400 tons (+20.1%).
“In February, we saw the consolidation of the resumption of shipments to China, at the same levels previously practiced for this destination, a behavior also observed in exports to the European Union. The commercial effects of the outbreak of Avian Influenza registered — and already overcome — in Brazilian commercial production in May of last year have been overcome and should positively influence the performance of exports in the coming months, following the increase in shipments to the main importing countries. This proves the strong international demand for Brazilian animal protein. On the other hand, great efforts are being made to build logistical alternatives that maintain the flow to destinations affected by the conflict in the Gulf of the Middle East,” assesses the president of ABPA, Ricardo Santin.
In the breakdown by state, Paraná remained in the lead, with 211,000 tons exported in February, a figure 13.3% higher than that recorded in the same period last year. Next are Santa Catarina, with 104,600 tons (-1.9%), Rio Grande do Sul, with 61,100 tons (-12.47%), São Paulo, with 28,800 tons (+6.4%) and Goiás, with 24,500 tons (+19.36%).
New destination for chicken meat - Chicken meat exporters celebrated the announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock regarding the achievement of market access in the Solomon Islands for exports from the Brazilian sector.
A country heavily dependent on food imports and with growing demand for animal protein, the Solomon Islands have approximately 830,000 inhabitants and limited domestic chicken production. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicate that the domestic supply of the product has doubled over the last decade, from about 2,000 tons in 2010 to approximately 4,000 tons, reflecting an expanding sector, but one still dependent on imports to meet demand. In 2024, chicken meat imports totaled approximately US$10.8 million, with supply concentrated mainly in Australia and the United States.
“The opening of this market positions Brazil as a solid alternative in the strategic partnership to support food security in this country, offering quality protein produced with high sanitary standards and a large supply capacity,” Santin analyzes.
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