Brazil egg exports soar amid stronger U.S. demand

By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian egg exports, including fresh and processed products, increased by 57.5% in February, the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) said on Wednesday, citing stronger U.S. demand.

In total, 2,527 tons were shipped in the second month of the year, compared to 1,604 in the same period last year. Brazilian egg shipments totaled $4.936 million by value, 63.2% higher than in the same period last year.

Egg prices hit a record high in the U.S. amid outbreaks of avian flu, forcing the nation to turn to imports and benefiting suppliers in Brazil, which is also the world's largest chicken exporter.

In the first two months of 2025, 4,884 tons were exported, up some 38%. In that same period, export revenue jumped 41.8% to $9.122 million.

ABPA said the main export destination, the United Arab Emirates, imported 548 tons in February, a 2.6% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Next came the United States, with 503 tons last month, a 93.4% rise. Mexico, which recently opened its doors to Brazilian eggs, imported 252 tons. Japan, with 215 tons, increased imports by 111.3%, ABPA said.

Until recently, Brazil was only allowed to export eggs for production of pet food in the U.S., Ricardo Santin, head of ABPA, told Reuters in a recent interview. Starting in January, the U.S. began issuing new permits allowing imports of Brazilian eggs for processing in the U.S. for human consumption.

Brazilian eggs cannot be sold directly to U.S. consumers, he said.

Brazil produced 57 billion eggs in 2024 and is expected to produce 59 billion in 2025, Santin noted, adding exports represent less than 1% of the domestic production.

Brazil's all-time egg export record was in 2009, when 37,000 tons were shipped. This year ABPA estimates exports in the range of 30,000 to 35,000 tons, Santin said in the interview.

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Aurora Ellis)