Brazilian chicken imports rise sharply in Africa
South Africa remains the largest importer, while Ghana and the Republic of Congo show rapid growth.
BRAZIL – According to the 2025 annual report from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), African nations imported a total of 965,699 tonnes of chicken from Brazil in 2024, marking an 18.25% increase from the previous year.
Imports from Brazil have grown steadily, rising from 555,734 tonnes in 2020 to 662,323 tonnes in 2021 and reaching 816,611 tonnes in 2023, resulting in an overall increase of 74% over five years.
On average, Brazilian chicken imports into Africa grew at an annual rate of 14.81% between 2020 and 2024.
South Africa continues to dominate as the main destination, purchasing 325,409 tonnes in 2024, which accounted for roughly one-third of Africa’s total imports from Brazil.
Other countries importing significant volumes include Libya (10.34% of the total), Ghana (9.74%), Angola (9.11%), and the Republic of Congo (4.98%), with Brazilian chicken reaching 44 African countries in total.
Ghana experienced the most dramatic rise in imports, increasing shipments from 15,268 tonnes in 2020 to 94,130 tonnes in 2024, moving the country from fifth to third place among Brazilian exporters’ African customers.
The Republic of Congo also saw a sharp increase, with imports climbing from 11,239 tonnes in 2020 to 48,170 tonnes in 2024, establishing the country as a growing market for Brazilian poultry.
These trends indicate that African markets, previously less prominent in Brazil’s export strategy, are becoming increasingly important for the poultry sector.
The growth pattern may face challenges in 2025, following Brazil’s first confirmed case of avian influenza at a commercial poultry farm on May 15, which triggered import restrictions.
South Africa temporarily halted imports from affected Brazilian suppliers, while Angola implemented partial restrictions, raising uncertainty over trade volumes in the following year.
The ABPA’s 2026 annual report will reveal the extent to which these measures impacted Brazilian chicken exports to Africa over the past 12 months.
Africa ranks as the third-largest market for Brazilian chicken, after Asia and the Middle East.
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