Chicken exports from Rio Grande do Sul grow 22.3%

Chicken meat exports from Rio Grande do Sul maintained their growth trajectory in May, reinforcing signs of recovery for the state's poultry industry in the international market. The state shipped 62,900 tons in the month, a volume 22.31 times higher than that recorded in May 2025, when exports totaled 51,400 tons.

The growth of more than 11,000 tons in just one year occurred in a scenario of gradual market recovery and maintenance of international demand for Brazilian poultry protein. In the accumulated period from January to May, shipments from Rio Grande do Sul reached 317,800 tons, an increase of 3.41% compared to the 307,400 tons exported in the same period last year.

The recovery is even more significant when viewed in terms of revenue from foreign sales. In May, revenue reached US$127.4 million, an increase of US$35.7 million compared to the US$93.9 million recorded in the same month of 2025.

In practice, this means that revenue grew at a faster rate than the volume exported, reflecting higher international prices and strong demand in various consumer markets.

In the first five months of 2026, exports of chicken meat from Rio Grande do Sul generated US$615.5 million.

an increase of 11% compared to the US$ 554.5 million recorded between January and May of last year.

Despite the positive numbers, the sector is still working to recover ground and offset losses accumulated in recent years.

According to the CEO of the Rio Grande do Sul Poultry Organization (Asgav/Sipargs), José Eduardo dos Santos, the recent performance demonstrates the resilience of companies in Rio Grande do Sul, although challenges remain. “The results recorded in May reinforce the competitiveness of Rio Grande do Sul's poultry industry in the international market and demonstrate the sector's ability to maintain external supply with quality, regularity, and sanitary safety. We observe a positive scenario, despite the obstacles, sustained by the recovery of markets and the maintenance of international demand for Brazilian poultry protein,” he states.

Brazil surpasses US$1 billion in exports for the first time.

The performance of Rio Grande do Sul coincides with a favorable moment for Brazilian poultry farming as a whole. For the first time in history, the monthly revenue from Brazilian chicken meat exports exceeded US$1 billion. In May, the country earned US$1.009 billion from shipments of the protein, a value 36.11 times higher than that recorded in the same month of 2025.

In terms of volume, national exports reached 509,900 tons, the highest result ever recorded for the month of May and a growth of 29.61% compared to the same period last year.

In the year to date, Brazil exported 2.453 million tons of chicken meat, an increase of 8.71% compared to the same period in 2025. Revenue reached US$4.714 billion, an increase of 11.3%

The figures reinforce the country's position as the world's largest exporter of chicken meat and help explain the more favorable environment faced by producing states, including Rio Grande do Sul.

Egg exports grow by more than 40%

The recovery of poultry farming in Rio Grande do Sul is not limited to chicken meat. The egg and egg product segment is also benefiting.

It expanded its presence in the foreign market. Between January and May, Rio Grande do Sul exported 2,771 tons, a volume 40.4% higher than the 1,974 tons shipped in the same period of 2025.

Revenue followed the growth in volumes, reaching US$10.2 million, an increase of US$43.8 million over the US$7.1 million recorded in the previous year. “The growth in exports of eggs and egg products demonstrates the sector's evolution and the confidence of importing markets in the product from Rio Grande do Sul. The egg industry and production in Rio Grande do Sul have been expanding their international presence, demonstrating productive capacity, quality, and adaptation to the demands of foreign trade,” says Santos.

With the simultaneous growth in exports of chicken meat and eggs, poultry farming in Rio Grande do Sul is expanding its share of international trade at a time of strong demand for animal protein. The challenge now is to transform the recovery observed in recent months into sustained growth and fully recover the ground lost in previous periods.