Brazil Agricultural By-products insights

The European Union has once again authorised imports of chicken meat from Brazil, lifting a 4-month suspension that began after the country’s first case of avian influenza was detected in May 2025. Now, Brazil is setting its sights on securing the same authorisation from China. This decision was formalised in the Official Journal of the European

This annual survey provides the latest data on animal food production and livestock in Brazil. According to G1, last year, the national chicken population reached a record high, while the cattle herd is the second largest since records began in 1974, just below the peak level of 2023. The following are the sizes of various livestock in 2024 compared to the Brazilian population. That year, IBGE estimated the Brazilian population to be 212.5 million. Cattle: 238.2 million head — 12% more than the Brazilian population. Production decreased by 0.2% compared to the previous year, due to the cattle cycle, with an increase in the slaughter of cows in recent years. The largest cattle herd is still concentrated in São Félix do Xingu, Pará. Poultry (mainly chickens and broilers): 1.6 billion — nearly 8 times the population. The number increased by 1.7% compared to the previous year, which is an increase of 26.8 million. Egg-laying hens reached 277.5 million, an increase of 6.8% from 2023. The municipality with the largest production is Santa Maria de Jetibá, Espírito Santo. Eggs: 5.4 billion dozen (64.8 billion eggs) — equivalent to about 305 eggs per person. Production increased in 24 of the 27 states, setting a new historical record. Santa Maria de Jetibá is also the place with the highest egg production in the country, earning it the title of "Egg Capital of Brazil." Milk production reaches a new high, but the number of dairy cows decreases The survey also released data on other animal food products: Milk production reached a record 35.7 billion liters, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year, with a total value of 87.5 billion reais. However, the number of dairy cows decreased to the lowest level since 1979, indicating increased productivity. The pig population reached 43.9 million. The goat population (mainly dairy goats) reached 13.3 million, an increase of 3.1% from the previous year, setting a historical record. The sheep population totals 21.9 million, equivalent to about 1 sheep per 10 Brazilians, also setting a historical record, an increase of 0.3% from the previous year. Honey production reached 67.3 million kilograms, a new record. Aquaculture (artificially raised fish and shrimp) production was 724,900 tons, with about 70% being tilapia.

Brazil will be able to resume exporting poultry products to the European Union (EU), the Ministry of Agriculture reported in a statement. The European bloc has reopened the market for Brazilian chicken and turkey meat, according to the ministry. Brazilian chicken exports to the 27 countries of the bloc had been suspended since May 16, when a case of avian flu was recorded in a commercial flock in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul. The resumption of Brazilian chicken purchases by the EU was formalized by the bloc in a regulation published on Monday, 15, by the European Commission. According to the ministry, the resumption of Brazilian chicken exports to the European Union will be done in phases. The resumption is effective from Tuesday, 23, and authorizes the entry of Brazilian products produced from September 18, with the exception of products from Rio Grande do Sul. For products from Rio Grande do Sul, except for the area of the focus where the avian flu case was recorded, exports ...