Beijing officially ends countrywide embargo on Brazilian chicken and related products, providing relief to the world’s largest poultry exporter.
China has officially lifted its nationwide ban on poultry and related product imports from Brazil, removing a major barrier that had stalled trade since May 2025. The decision comes after a risk-analysis review by China’s General Administration of Customs, with a notice dated 31 October 2025 and publicly released on 7 November 2025.
The ban was originally imposed in mid-May following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial poultry farm in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Brazil, recognised as the world’s largest chicken exporter, had seen a significant disruption to its trade flows as China—one of its biggest customers—halted imports
Why this matters
- Brazil exported approximately US$10 billion of chicken meat in 2024, accounting for around 35 % of global poultry trade.
- The import ban had diverted Brazilian supplies to other markets and strained global poultry supply chains, particularly in Asia.
- China’s reopening of its market signals a restoration of trade flows and may prompt other nations to reassess restrictions on Brazilian poultry.
What happens next
Brazilian authorities and export associations welcomed the decision, noting that reopening China’s market will ease pressure on domestic producers. Meanwhile, China continues to assert that the lift is conditional on ongoing risk surveillance and compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards. The Brazilian poultry industry is now working to ramp up shipments and logistics to respond to revived demand from China. Market analysts expect export volumes to rebound in the coming months, and global analysts suggest the move could help stabilise poultry prices and supply in the interconnected global market.
