As reported by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA), Brazil completed 2025 with record-breaking amounts of chicken meat and egg exports, highlighting a year where global demand remained strong despite challenges faced by the poultry industry due to disease-related disruptions.
Over the course of the year, Brazil shipped out more than 5.32 million metric tons of poultry meat, marking a modest increase of 0.6% from 2024. This amount set a new record for the highest annual volume of poultry exports ever achieved by the country, showcasing Brazil’s adaptability in the international market.
Although shipment volumes showed an upward trend, earnings from poultry meat exports saw a slight drop. The total revenue for the year was approximately US$9.79 billion, lower than the previous year’s earnings, demonstrating the effects of fluctuating commodity prices and varying global market conditions.
The United Arab Emirates retained its position as the leading importer of Brazilian poultry meat, importing nearly 480,000 metric tons in 2025, which represented a 5.5% rise from the prior year. Japan continued to be an important market, although its import volume decreased by 9%, reaching around 403,000 metric tons. Following these countries, Saudi Arabia imported about 397,000 metric tons, South Africa 336,000 metric tons, and the Philippines 264,000 metric tons, with all three nations showing year-on-year increases in their import quantities.
Brazil’s poultry export performance in December was crucial in determining the annual outcomes. Shipments for this month escalated nearly 14% compared to the previous year, hitting approximately 510,800 metric tons. Revenue from poultry exports in December reached around US$948 million, reflecting an increase of nearly 11% compared to December 2024.
ABPA president Ricardo Santin mentioned that export flows were temporarily hindered by Brazil’s first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in May. Fortunately, after the initial outbreak, no further instances were identified, and trade restrictions were slowly lifted, paving the way for a rebound in exports. Santin also pointed out that shipments to the European Union witnessed substantial growth, increasing by 52% in December. Additionally, China quickly resumed its purchases, importing about 21,200 metric tons shortly after reopening its market to Brazilian poultry.
In an impressive turnaround, Brazil’s egg exports reached historic heights in 2025, with total shipments approaching 41,000 metric tons—more than double the volume recorded in the previous year. Revenue from egg and egg product exports surged even higher, rising by an astounding 148% to approximately US$97.2 million.
The United States became the largest buyer of Brazilian eggs, importing around 19,600 metric tons—over eight times the volume from 2024—though shipments began to decelerate later in the year due to the introduction of tariffs. Meanwhile, Japan imported about 5,400 metric tons, and Mexico received close to 3,200 metric tons. Additional shipments were sent to Chile and the United Arab Emirates, contributing to exports that surpassed 1% of Brazil’s total egg production for the first time ever, emphasizing the growing importance of the egg export market.
