CEPEA: Brazil's Chicken Exports Reach Record Volume

Brazil's chicken exports reached 509,900 tons in May 2026, marking the third highest volume on record according to the Secretariat of Foreign Trade. This represents a 4.8% increase from April and a significant 29.6% rise compared to May 2025, driven by robust external demand, particularly from Middle Eastern countries.

According to data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea) at the University of São Paulo, Brazil's chicken meat exports reached 509,900 tons in May 2026. This volume represents the third highest on record since the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex) began tracking data in 1997. The May figures show a 4.8% increase compared to April and a substantial 29.6% surge when measured against the same period in 2025. While impressive, May's export volume was slightly below the 514,600 tons recorded in March 2024 and the 510,900 tons shipped in December 2025. Cepea highlights that chicken exports have maintained strong momentum throughout 2026, consistently showing increases year-on-year. This sustained growth is attributed to heightened global demand, particularly from Middle Eastern countries, which are increasingly relying on Brazilian chicken products, further solidifying Brazil's position as a leading global poultry exporter.