Brazil expands chicken exports to Africa following Sudan market opening

Sudan has authorized imports of additional categories of Brazilian poultry products, expanding opportunities for Brazilian exporters in the African market. The decision was announced on October 21, 2026, by Brazil’s agriculture and foreign ministries. The list of approved products includes day-old chicks, hatching eggs, poultry meat, processed meat products and offal.

The opening of the Sudanese market marks another step in expanding the presence of Brazilian poultry products in Africa. In particular, Namibia authorized imports of Brazilian chicken offal on September 1. Earlier, on April 7, Ethiopia granted market access to 17 categories of Brazilian products, including poultry meat, processed meat products and offal.

According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), Brazilian chicken exports to African countries reached a record 1.16 mln tons in 2025, up 20.3% from the previous year. Shipments exceeded 1 mln tons for the first time. By comparison, Brazil exported 662.3 thsd tons of chicken to Africa in 2021, meaning volumes increased by almost 76% over four years. South Africa remains the largest African buyer, while other important markets include Angola, Libya, Ghana, Guinea and Congo.

Brazil’s export expansion in Africa comes amid restrictions on access to the European Union market for Brazilian poultry products. In May 2026, the EU removed Brazil from the list of countries authorized to supply certain animal products, including poultry meat. The restrictions took effect on September 3 due to concerns over sanitary guarantees related to antimicrobial use in livestock production. Meanwhile, on October 21, the European Commission announced its intention to propose restoring Brazilian chicken exports to the EU market, although the proposal still requires approval.

According to USDA estimates, restrictions in the European market could encourage Brazilian exporters to develop alternative sales destinations more actively, particularly in Africa. Competition is also expected to intensify as EU chicken exports are forecast to decline by 1.3% in 2027 to 1.75 mln tons.

Tags: Africa, Brazil, Sudan, chicken