Brazil resumes chicken exports to Malaysia
Exports had been suspended following a bird flu outbreak, while new approvals open opportunities for Brazilian meat exporters in the Caucasus region.
BRAZIL – Brazil has resumed its chicken exports to Malaysia after a temporary suspension earlier this year following a bird flu outbreak in the country’s southern region.
According to a statement by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the decision to reopen the Malaysian market was reached during an official visit by a Brazilian delegation to Kuala Lumpur.
The resumption marks a return to one of Brazil’s key Asian export destinations, which had halted imports as a precautionary measure in May when the outbreak was reported.
Malaysia’s green light comes as Brazil continues to regain and expand access to global markets for its poultry and pork products following recent sanitary restrictions.
A few weeks earlier, the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) confirmed that Azerbaijan had authorized imports of thermo-processed pork and poultry products from Brazil.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in Brasília announced the development after several rounds of talks between Brazilian officials and Azerbaijan’s health regulators.
Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro led the discussions, joined by International Relations Secretary Luis Renato Rua, Agricultural Defense Secretary Carlos Goulart, and technical representatives from both countries.
The approval signals a renewed opportunity for Brazilian exporters to re-enter Azerbaijan’s growing meat market, particularly in the poultry segment.
Per capita chicken consumption in Azerbaijan stood at about 15 kilograms in 2021, representing an estimated total of 141,000 tons.
Industry data suggests that demand could rise to around 152,000 tons by 2026, showing gradual but consistent growth in the country’s poultry intake.
In 2024, Azerbaijan imported 41,900 tons of chicken, up 46 percent from 2023, with most of the supply coming from Ukraine and Russia.
Brazil had been among Azerbaijan’s main chicken suppliers until 2019, when shipments were suspended, before briefly resuming in 2023.
Although pork consumption remains low due to cultural preferences, Brazil has previously supplied a significant share of Azerbaijan’s limited pork imports.
Gradual Market Re-entry
The new authorization for thermo-processed products allows Brazilian exporters to comply with local health standards while gradually rebuilding their presence in the market.
Producers are expected to focus on meeting food safety and quality requirements to strengthen trade relations with Azerbaijan and sustain export volumes.
The combined developments in Malaysia and Azerbaijan reflect Brazil’s ongoing efforts to restore confidence in its meat exports after recent disruptions.
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