April 11, 20260 views0 shares
CEPEA: Q1 Chicken Exports Reach Record High
Despite a challenging geopolitical landscape, Brazil's chicken exports achieved a record high in the first quarter of 2026. From January to March, the country exported 1.45 million tons of chicken meat, surpassing the previous record set in 2025 and marking the highest volume for a Q1 since 1997. This performance exceeded industry expectations, as international demand typically slows during this period.
The University of São Paulo's research center (CEPEA) reports that Brazil's chicken exports achieved a new historical record in the first quarter of 2026, despite a complex geopolitical scenario.
According to data from the Brazilian Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), and analyzed by CEPEA based on historical series dating back to 1997, Brazil exported a total of 1.45 million tons of chicken meat between January and March this year. This figure not only represents the highest volume ever recorded for a first quarter but also surpasses the previous record of 1.44 million tons set in the same period of 2025 by 0.7%.
This remarkable export performance even surprised industry agents consulted by CEPEA. Typically, the first quarter of the year is characterized by lower international demand, with chicken exports tending to grow more significantly in the second half of the year. Therefore, achieving a record-breaking export volume in the first quarter underscores the resilience and competitiveness of Brazilian chicken in the global market.