Brazilian chicken imports in Africa surge by 13% in 2023

AFRICA – Imports of Brazilian chicken in Africa are experiencing a significant increase, with a reported rise of 13% in 2023 compared to the previous year. 

This trend indicates a growing interest in Brazilian poultry across the continent.

According to the latest annual report from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), African countries imported 816,000 tons of chicken meat last year. 

This amount accounts for 16% of Brazil’s total poultry exports, positioning Africa as the third-largest market for Brazilian chicken after Asia and the Middle East.

For Africa, this import volume constitutes nearly 40% of its overall poultry imports, which the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates at around 1.8 million tonnes annually.

South Africa Leads Demand

The primary driver of Brazilian chicken exports to Africa is South Africa, which emerged as the top destination for Brazilian poultry traders.

In 2023, South Africa imported 340,435 tons, marking an increase of over 56,000 tons from 2022. 

Despite consuming approximately 1.8 million tonnes of poultry each year, South African production has yet to meet demand, even with recent investments.

This gap between supply and demand, compounded by structural issues such as high production costs, presents a favorable opportunity for Brazilian exporters. 

Currently, they command over 80% of the market share for imported poultry in South Africa, despite the anti-dumping duties of 265% that have been in effect since August 2023.

In terms of global markets, South Africa ranks as Brazil’s fifth largest destination for chicken exports, following China, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

Following South Africa, Libya ranks as the second-largest importer, bringing in around 76,400 tonnes, while Egypt follows with imports of 59,136 tonnes. 

Collectively, these three nations accounted for nearly 476,000 tonnes, or 58% of Africa’s total poultry imports in 2023. 

Other notable importers include Ghana and Angola, with 56,213 tonnes and 55,698 tonnes, respectively.

Future Projections

While ABPA has yet to release import forecasts for 2024, Brazilian shipments are anticipated to reach a new record, with projections of 4.97 million tons by the end of the year, as indicated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Brazilian exporters are likely to continue prioritizing the African market. In October 2023, Algeria was added to Brazil’s list of African trading partners, which now encompasses 45 countries following the signing of an agreement on poultry health and safety standards.

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