The world is full of trade rules, barriers and borders that are more than mere geopolitical lines between countries. Some are for health reasons, others political and perhaps economic. But as Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian Association of Animal Proteins (ABPA), summed up at a press conference on chicken and pork markets in Brazil and abroad at the last SIAVS in São Paulo, Brazil: “There should be no borders for food.”

Obviously, Brazil wants to secure its animal protein exports. Yes, it is a business, but it is about food safety and, as ABPA explains, complementing other countries’ production.

One of the characteristics of the Brazilian poultry industry is its versatility. Whether Shawarma for the Middle East, kakugiri for Japan, chicken feet for China or chicken breast for Mexico or Europe. The products are designed for consumer convenience and consumption at home and can be offered as single portions, ready-to-eat products or in other variants.

In 2023, 34.6% of the chicken meat produced in Brazil was exported, or 5,139 million tonnes (MT), mainly to China, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Mexico ranked 10th among the top 10 export recipients. Brazil expects exports to increase by 2.2% in 2024 and 1.9% in 2025. Meanwhile, chicken meat exports from the US remain stable and those from the EU are declining.

We all know that China, Mexico, Argentina and Macedonia stopped imports after the single outbreak of Newcastle disease. Argentina and China are back on track, but Mexico is not. Which of the above obstacles apply here? Meanwhile, Brazil is working on opening up other markets that may seem small but are gaining a foothold in some regions. This happened in El Salvador last April and in Panama last week.

Santin provided a good comparison of population growth in countries and major cities. He also compared the new consumers in the coming years and one thing is certain: India and China concentrate most of it. But as for the consumption of animal proteins, according to the Rabobank data he presented, emerging markets will account for 90% of the growth in protein consumption. That is, 50% of the growth will be in Asia, while 20% will be in Latin America (mainly Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Argentina).

While high-income countries focus their consumption on trendy things such as emotional and individual needs, organic or vegetarian, the rest of the world values ​​food security, food stability and added value.

What do you think?