Brazil Pork Exports Grow 6.2% in Jan-Sep; China-Brazil Protocol Revision Opens New Opportunities(Oct 10)

Brazil Pork Exports Grow 6.2% in Jan-Sep; China-Brazil Protocol Revision Opens New Opportunities

January-September Performance

According to statistics from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), Brazilian pork exports from January to September 2026 reached 1.192 million tons, up 6.2% year-on-year. Export revenue totaled USD 2.737 billion, up 1.3% from USD 2.703 billion in the same period last year.

September Export Data

In September, pork exports totaled 135,000 tons, down 11% year-on-year. Export revenue reached USD 289.3 million, down 21.5% year-on-year. The Philippines was the largest export destination in September with 25,691 tons, down 47.7% from 49,078 tons in the same period of 2025. Japan followed with 15,916 tons (up 38.9%), Chile with 14,431 tons (up 72%), China with 11,418 tons (down 16.4%), and Vietnam with 7,392 tons (down 23.2%).

Emerging Market Growth

Notably, exports to Argentina grew 73.8% to 7,312 tons; exports to the Dominican Republic grew 53.6% to 2,129 tons; Peru grew 104.6% to 1,054 tons; and South Africa grew 99.4% to 822 tons. Malaysia, which recently opened to Brazilian pork, imported 1,918 tons in September.

ABPA President Assessment

ABPA President Ricardo Santin analyzed: "Despite facing higher comparison bases and pressure on international average prices, the monthly performance remained solid. The year-to-date performance maintains a positive trend, with monthly average exports exceeding 130,000 tons and average growth exceeding 6%. Growth in markets such as Japan, Chile, and Argentina, combined with the launch of exports to Malaysia, fully demonstrates the diversification and competitiveness of the Brazilian pork market."

State-Level Performance

In September, Santa Catarina maintained its export lead with 64,479 tons, down 11.4% from 72,784 tons in the same period last year. Rio Grande do Sul followed with 33,779 tons (down 5.5%), Parana with 22,737 tons (down 10.1%), Mato Grosso with 3,762 tons (down 3.7%), and Minas Gerais with 3,477 tons (up 19.4%).

China-Brazil Protocol Revision

On the eve of the National Day holiday, on September 26, 2026, China and Brazil revised the pork export protocol, expanding the scope of market access for Brazilian pork to China by including pork by-products in the list of products approved for export to China. The formal signing of this agreement resulted from extensive consultations between Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and Chinese authorities, marking one of the most important recent advances in market access for the Brazilian pork industry.

According to ABPA estimates, this new market access will allow over 100,000 tons of Brazilian pork by-products to be sold to the Chinese market annually. "This is a significant achievement for the Brazilian pork industry, and the result of solid technical work by Minister of Agriculture Andre de Paula and the entire team at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock with Chinese authorities. This protocol not only expands our commercial prospects but also elevates the market positioning of Brazilian products, increases added value, and creates new opportunities across the entire supply chain," emphasized ABPA President Ricardo.