Middle East Maintains Confidence in Brazilian Chicken Despite Avian Flu Outbreak
Despite a challenging year marked by an avian flu outbreak,Brazil‘s chicken exports have demonstrated remarkable resilience,largely due to teh continued trust of the middle Eastern market.Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian animal Protein Association (ABPA), highlighted this confidence during a press briefing on Wednesday, noting the region’s comparatively swift and measured response to the health situation.
While some countries temporarily suspended imports from Brazil following the detection of avian flu,the UAE notably remained open,and Saudi Arabia quickly adopted a strategy of regionalization – restricting purchases to affected areas rather than implementing a full import ban. Santin emphasized that the Middle East, as a whole, displayed the greatest confidence in Brazil’s supply throughout the crisis.
This trust stems from the Arab market’s long-standing familiarity with brazil’s halal production practices and the established relationship with Brazilian certification bodies.Brazil is the world’s leading supplier of halal chicken, adhering to Islamic dietary laws. This pre-existing understanding allowed for a smoother continuation of trade, with the UAE maintaining its position as Brazil’s largest chicken importer.
Data from January to October 2024 reveals that Brazil exported 4.378 million metric tons of chicken, a minimal decrease of 0.1% compared to the same period last year. The UAE purchased 393,680 tons, representing a 0.79% increase, while Saudi Arabia also boosted its imports by 6.93%, reaching 332,890 tons. In contrast, three other major importers – Japan, South Africa, and China – all reduced their purchases.
Looking ahead,ABPA anticipates a strengthening of the partnership with the Arab market in 2026,alongside expansion into other halal markets in Africa,including Tanzania. Recent efforts to reopen markets in Indonesia and Malaysia,both countries with significant muslim populations,further demonstrate this strategic focus.
ABPA projects total chicken exports for 2024 to reach up to 5.32 million tons, an increase of up to 0.5% over the previous year. The association expects a further increase to 5.5 million tons in 2025, a rise of over 3.4%. Santin expressed optimism that even in the event of future avian flu outbreaks, the impact will be lessened due to ongoing preventative work and the increasing acceptance of regionalization by importing nations. During the current outbreak, 122 markets remained fully open to Brazilian chicken, while only 28 implemented closures, many of which were partial.
