📅 Published: May 21, 2025
A major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) has been confirmed in Brazil, the world's largest poultry exporter. This development has triggered significant disruptions in global chicken supply and is already affecting import prices — including in key markets like the UAE, which heavily depends on Brazilian chicken.
🔥 What Happened in Brazil?
On May 20, 2025, Brazilian authorities confirmed a case of H5N1 bird flu in a commercial flock in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul. As a result, several countries swiftly suspended chicken imports from Brazil to protect domestic food safety and prevent the spread of the virus.
🔗 Source Links for Verification:
• Reuters – Brazil trade restrictions after bird flu outbreak
• Financial Times – China bans Brazilian chicken over bird flu
• AP News – Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay halt imports
• Poultry Site – Hopeful signs for zoning approval
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📈 Global Price Impact
This outbreak is already causing chicken prices to rise globally due to supply shocks. For example, South Korea saw boneless chicken leg meat prices spike to 7,000 won/kg, driven by sudden shortages.
🔗 Source:
• S&P Global – South Korea poultry market hit hard
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🇦🇪 Impact on the UAE Poultry Market
The UAE is one of Brazil's top five poultry importers, importing over 424,000 tonnes in 2024 alone. The local market depends heavily on Brazilian chicken for both retail and foodservice demand.
Although the UAE has not yet imposed a ban, authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Historically, the UAE has enforced strict biosecurity measures and temporarily suspended imports from specific regions when bird flu was detected.
🔗 Source Links:
• ANBA – UAE poultry imports from Brazil
• WAM – UAE precautionary bans on avian flu zones
If the outbreak spreads or lasts longer, we expect:
• A rise in chicken prices in the UAE market.
• Possible short-term supply shortages, especially in the frozen poultry category.
• Increased demand for poultry from alternative sources like India, Ukraine, and Turkey.
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📦 What ALiFTAR Is Doing
At ALiFTAR, we are:
• Closely monitoring daily import/export updates.
• Exploring diversification options for poultry sourcing.
• Working to secure consistent inventory to prevent supply gaps for our customers across Dubai and the UAE.
We remain committed to delivering safe, premium-quality meat — even in times of global supply disruption.
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📢 Stay connected with ALiFTAR for more updates on meat supply, pricing, and food safety in the UAE.
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