EN 
PT_BR Mato Grosso exported 90,120 tons of chicken meat between January and September 2026, an increase of 24,421 tons compared to the same period last year. This volume is the highest recorded in the last nine years for the first nine months of the year, according to an analysis by the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea), published this week in edition 330 of Imea Informa.
According to Felipe Andrade, who monitors the dairy, poultry, and swine sectors at Imea, part of the growth is related to the 2025 comparison base, when Brazilian chicken meat exports suffered embargoes between May and August following cases of avian flu. The restriction reduced shipments during that period and influenced this year's accumulated result.
Another factor that affected international trade was the conflict involving the United States and Iran, which began in March 2026 and impacted the movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. This situation created difficulties for trade flows with countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, which was the second main destination for Mato Grosso chicken meat in 2025.
“Even with the impacts on trade with the Middle East, Mato Grosso maintains a good pace of exports, with Asia and the countries of the Middle East among the main destinations for the state's chicken meat,” Andrade points out.
Of the 90,120 tons of chicken meat exported from the state, 27,340 tons went to Saudi Arabia (the leader in the ranking), 10,770 tons to the market formed by Hong Kong and China, and 10,370 tons to the United Arab Emirates, the third main destination during the period.
Exports surged in October
Partial data from the first seven working days of October also indicate growth in Brazilian chicken meat exports. According to information from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), compiled by Imea, the average daily revenue reached US$53 million, an increase of 46.84% compared to the daily average for October 2025.
The average daily volume shipped increased by 28.12% in the same comparison, reaching 27,600 tons per day. In total, 193,210 tons were shipped during the analyzed period, signaling a significant start to the month for Brazilian foreign trade in the product.
The expansion of global demand for chicken meat also opens up opportunities for integrated producers in Mato Grosso. About 40 kilometers from Nova Mutum, poultry farmer Paulo André Zen maintains a structure with two units and four poultry houses, with the capacity to house approximately 140,000 chickens per batch. The production system works with cycles of 40 to 42 days, followed by a 15-day sanitary break, totaling an average of 5.8 batches delivered per year.
“The increase in chicken meat consumption in the international market is positive, as it creates prospects for strengthening the partnership with the integrating company and expanding the activity. However, the market upturn does not immediately translate into gains for us producers. This is because the negotiation process with the company is slow, which means that the effects of the increased demand take time to reach the producer,” he emphasizes.
Suspension in Mexico has limited impact on Mato Grosso.
Mexico has suspended imports of Brazilian poultry products after confirming an outbreak of Newcastle disease in Santa Catarina. The disease is a highly contagious viral infection among birds, which can cause respiratory and neurological problems and increase mortality in flocks. According to health authorities, it does not represent a significant risk to human health.
In Mato Grosso, there are no records of the disease, and exposure to the Mexican market is small. According to Imea, the country accounted for 1.59% of Mato Grosso's exports between January and September 2026. China, however, has restricted purchases of poultry products originating exclusively from Santa Catarina. Given this scenario, the Famato System reinforces the importance of sanitary surveillance and the adoption of preventive measures on rural properties.
