Key Takeaways
- ▸Brazil exported a record 2.94 million tonnes of chicken in H1 2026, up 12.9%.
- ▸H1 chicken revenue reached US$5.7 billion, up 17% year on year.
- ▸June shipments jumped 40.6% to 482,800 tonnes; revenue rose 54.7%.
- ▸June's top buyers were China (50,100 t), Japan (46,600 t) and UAE (46,200 t).
- ▸Chicken's near three-way buyer tie spreads risk better than beef's concentration.
MARKET PULSE · Nº 10
Brazil's poultry sector just posted its best half-year on record: 2.94 million tonnes and US$5.7 billion. The volume headline is impressive — but the interesting question is who is doing the buying.
June was the engine, with volume up 40.6% and revenue up an even sharper 54.7% year on year. As with beef, value is outrunning tonnage — a sign the world is short of protein and willing to pay Brazilian prices to close the gap.
Here is the reassuring part. In June, China (50,100 t), Japan (46,600 t) and the UAE (46,200 t) each took almost identical volumes. Where beef leans heavily on one buyer, chicken's top of the table is a near three-way tie — a very different risk profile heading into the second half.
Why the spread matters
Three roughly equal buyers across Asia, East Asia and the Gulf is a far sturdier base than one dominant market. If any single one pauses, the book wobbles rather than topples — the quiet advantage behind a record half.
The 4DW Angle
Poultry is where diversification already looks healthy, and it shows in the numbers. A record built on a balanced buyer list is the kind of record that tends to survive contact with the next surprise.
▮ Frequently asked questions
How much chicken did Brazil export in the first half of 2026?
Brazil posted its best poultry half on record, exporting 2.94 million tonnes of chicken in the first half of 2026, up 12.9% year on year, and earning US$5.7 billion, up 17%. June was the engine, with shipments up 40.6% to 482,800 tonnes and revenue up 54.7% to US$985.5 million.
Who were Brazil's top chicken buyers in June 2026?
In June 2026 China (50,100 tonnes), Japan (46,600 tonnes) and the UAE (46,200 tonnes) each took almost identical volumes of Brazilian chicken. Unlike beef, which leans heavily on one buyer, chicken's top of the table is a near three-way tie, giving it a far sturdier risk profile heading into the second half.
Why is Brazil's chicken export mix considered low-risk?
Three roughly equal buyers across Asia, East Asia and the Gulf form a sturdier base than one dominant market. If any single buyer pauses, the book wobbles rather than topples. That balanced buyer list, visible in June's near-tie between China, Japan and the UAE, is the quiet advantage behind a record half.
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