Brazil delivered its strongest poultry export month on record in May 2026, yet the milestone is shadowed by a real risk to its European market access.
Chicken meat export revenue topped $1 billion for the first time, reaching $1.009 billion, up 36.1% on May 2025. Export volumes hit 509,900 tonnes, up 29.6% year on year and the highest ever for a single May. Over January to May, Brazil shipped 2.453 million tonnes, 8.7% more than a year earlier.
The catch is regulatory. Brazil has not appeared on the EU’s list of approved exporters under new antimicrobial requirements and risks losing access to the European market from 3 September. Brazilian officials say they expect to resolve the matter and supply the required technical information in time, but the uncertainty is already biting: deadweight prices softened in the second half of May as the news spread, and traders recall the HPAI export ban of September 2025.
In Europe, broiler markets are steadying after months of pressure. The Belgian ABC price has held near €1.12/kg for two weeks, though that remains well below the €1.36/kg seen a year ago. Supply is expected to rise in the coming weeks following production gaps around Ascension Day and Pentecost, and processors expect the stable line to hold.
Disease remains a drag. Poland is battling both HPAI and Newcastle Disease, with three recent outbreaks confirmed in vaccinated flocks. UK demand is growing 4.5-5% year on year, outpacing domestic production and pulling in more imports.