Brazil poultry exports to EU surge before market suspension, reopening eyed

Brazilian poultry exports to the European Union reached their highest monthly level of 2026 in September, according to official data, driven by increased shipments ahead of the European market's closure to Brazilian animal products.

Data published by the Brazilian Foreign Trade Agency (Secex) on Oct. 6 showed Brazilian poultry shipments to EU countries totaled 43,736 mt in September, up 2.9% from August and rising for a fourth consecutive month. Among the categories recording the strongest growth, poultry general volumes rose 30.3% month on month.

"We shipped a higher volume in September," a Brazilian exporter said, adding that an increase in total export volumes had been expected.

According to another exporter, products produced and certified through Sept. 2 could still be shipped to European countries. As the process leading up to shipment can take around two weeks, a large portion of these volumes shipped around mid-September.

"The figure was slightly above expectations. However, an increase had already been expected," the source said, echoing the first exporter.

Another industry participant said importers increased purchases to build inventories after the EU decided to halt imports of Brazilian products, contributing to higher export volumes in September.

In October, however, market participants expect shipments to decline, as products produced in September are unlikely to continue being shipped to the bloc.

Market expects EU trade to resume

Following positive results from an audit conducted by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, welcomed by Brazilian authorities, market participants have raised expectations that the bloc could resume purchases of Brazilian chicken meat.

According to Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the audit found the country's regulatory system and sanitary controls satisfactory, with no technical obstacles identified to a resumption of exports. A final decision is expected to be discussed by the European committee at a meeting scheduled for Oct. 20-21.

A third exporter said the European market could reopen as early as November if the decision is favorable to Brazil.

Still, according to the source, the first shipments are unlikely to take place before December.