According to a September 22 report by Brazil’s O Globo, the European Union announced this Monday that it has reopened its market to Brazilian chicken and turkey meat. The EU had suspended poultry imports from Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state since an avian influenza outbreak occurred there in May this year.
The trade restriction was triggered by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 subtype) at a commercial farm in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state in May 2025. To prevent the spread of the disease, China’s General Administration of Customs issued an announcement on May 29 suspending imports of Brazilian poultry and related products.
However, according to data from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association, prior to the outbreak, China was a crucial export market for Brazilian chicken. In 2024, China imported 562,000 tons of Brazilian chicken, accounting for over 10% of Brazil’s total exports. Therefore, resuming exports to China as soon as possible is of great importance to Brazil.
The good news is that key steps toward restoring trade—China’s technical audit—have shown positive progress:
Audit Completed: A technical delegation of six Chinese officials began work in Brazil on September 22 and completed an on-site inspection of Rio Grande do Sul state on September 24. The delegation visited farms and slaughterhouses, focusing on evaluating Brazil’s sanitary control system following the avian influenza outbreak.
Positive Official Signals: During the audit period, a spokesperson at a regular press conference of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China and Brazil maintain “close cooperation and good communication” in the field of inspection and quarantine, which the market interpreted as a highly positive signal.
International Recognition: Brazil’s avian influenza prevention and control system has been recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Furthermore, the European Union officially resumed phased imports of Brazilian chicken and turkey meat starting September 23, undoubtedly boosting international market confidence in the safety of Brazilian poultry.
📈 Market Impact and Future Outlook
The resumption of Brazilian chicken imports into the Chinese market is in its “final countdown.” Once the restrictions are lifted, the following impacts are expected:
Price Stabilization: Brazilian chicken, particularly by-products such as chicken paws and wings, with their cost advantage (estimated lower CIF prices), acts as a cost “stabilizer” for the domestic餐饮 supply chain. Resuming imports will help stabilize prices for related products in the domestic market.
Impact and Competition: The return of Brazilian chicken may also create some competitive pressure on farmers in certain domestic production regions.
💎 Summary
Overall, all current signs indicate that the main obstacles to China resuming imports of Brazilian chicken have been cleared, and formal lifting of the ban is highly likely in the near future.