Brazil’s poultry export trade has come under fresh pressure after Mexico suspended imports of Brazilian poultry products following a Newcastle disease outbreak in Santa Catarina, raising concerns over market access for one of the world’s leading chicken exporters.
Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry announced the restrictions late on Monday, covering a broad range of products, including chicken meat, poultry offal, fertile eggs, chicks aged up to three days, ornamental and songbirds, birds of prey and companion birds.
The move is aimed at protecting Mexico’s domestic poultry industry from Newcastle disease, a highly contagious viral infection that can spread among birds and cause substantial production losses. Mexico maintains that it is free from the disease and is seeking to prevent its introduction through imported poultry and related products.
The outbreak was reported at a turkey farm in Brazil’s southern state of Santa Catarina, triggering the latest restrictions on shipments destined for the Mexican market.
A significant market for Brazilian chicken
The suspension puts an important commercial relationship under pressure. Brazil has been Mexico’s second-largest supplier of chicken meat since 2022, according to a 2025 report by Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry.
Mexico also ranked as the seventh-largest importer of Brazilian chicken meat in 2025, figures from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) show.
The scale of the trade relationship means the duration of the restrictions could influence exporters supplying Mexican buyers. Businesses handling affected products may need to reassess shipment schedules, monitor official decisions and consider alternative markets if the suspension continues.
However, the overall impact will depend on how long the restrictions remain in force and the range of products and shipments affected.
For Brazil’s poultry industry, maintaining confidence among international buyers depends heavily on effective disease monitoring, prompt reporting and the ability to demonstrate that outbreaks are being contained.
Previous disease outbreak disrupted trade
The latest decision recalls a similar episode in May 2025, when Mexico suspended imports of Brazilian poultry products after an avian influenza case was reported. The Mexican market was subsequently reopened after the sanitary risk had eased.
The two incidents highlight the vulnerability of international poultry supply chains to animal health emergencies. Even outbreaks concentrated in particular locations can prompt importing countries to impose restrictions while veterinary authorities assess the risk.
For exporters, such decisions can complicate logistics, delay deliveries and create uncertainty for producers and processors relying on overseas buyers.
The resumption of Brazilian poultry shipments to Mexico will depend on veterinary assessments and the Mexican authorities’ determination that the relevant sanitary conditions have been met.
Biosecurity remains critical
The development reinforces the importance of strong farm-level biosecurity across the poultry industry. Measures such as controlling access to farms, limiting unnecessary movement between poultry houses, monitoring bird health and reporting suspected infections quickly can help reduce the risk of disease spreading.
Effective veterinary surveillance and transparent communication between authorities are also essential in managing outbreaks and supporting the eventual restoration of trade.
For Brazil, the priority will be containing the Newcastle disease outbreak and meeting the health requirements needed to regain access to the Mexican market. The suspension serves as another reminder that disease prevention and rapid response are essential not only for protecting poultry flocks, but also for safeguarding export earnings and the stability of international poultry trade.
