August 18, 2025

 

Brazil wins back poultry market access to Saudi Arabia, Chile 

 

 

Brazil will restart its poultry exports to Saudi Arabia and Chile after the two countries lifted restrictions related to the bird flu outbreak in some Brazilian states.

 

Saudi Arabia has lifted a ban on poultry imports from Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, where an outbreak of bird flu was reported on a commercial poultry farm in May, according to a Saudi Arabian Agriculture Ministry memo issued on August 14.

 

Chile, which had also imposed trade restrictions after the outbreak, has also agreed to resume buying Brazilian poultry products produced after August 9, according to a separate document sent from Chile to Brazilian authorities.

 

Chile will be open to importing Brazilian fertile eggs, one-day chicks, fresh chicken and processed products, according to the document, which was also issued on August 14 following a visit by Chilean officials to Brazil last week.

 

The document also says that Chilean authorities recognise Rio Grande do Sul state as free of Newcastle disease, which is a highly contagious and viral disease affecting birds, like avian flu.

 

Earlier in the day, executives at Brazilian food processor BRF welcomed the end of Saudi Arabia's ban and the potential easing of Chile's trade restrictions at a press conference.

 

Last week, BRF reported strong second-quarter results, but trade bans did affect the company's poultry exports and the quarterly results, managers said.

 

Brazilian companies had faced a number of regional and countrywide trade bans after the country's first-ever bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm, which were gradually lifted.

 

Large food importers like China have not resumed buying Brazilian poultry.

 

-      Reuters