Santa Catarina sets historic record for meat exports in the first quarter.

Santa Catarina registered record performance in meat exports (chicken, pork, turkey, duck, mallard, beef, and others) in the first quarter of 2026, achieving the best results in the historical series in both revenue and volume. The state exported 518,400 tons, generating US$1.17 billion, a 4% increase in quantity and a 9.6% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2025. The results consolidate the state's prominent position in the international market. “Santa Catarina produces with recognized quality; the animal protein from our state reaches more than 150 countries. This is a reflection of all the support work we have with producers and agribusinesses,” says Governor Jorginho Mello. The Secretary of State for Agriculture and Livestock, Admir Dalla Cort, emphasizes that this performance is a result of the high sanitary standards and continuous work in agricultural defense in the state, together with the entire production chain. “Santa Catarina has built a reliable sanitary system, recognized internationally. This differential guarantees access to the most demanding markets and sustains the growth of exports, even in challenging scenarios,” he emphasizes. The figures are released by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) and systematized by the Center for Socioeconomics and Agricultural Planning (Epagri/Cepa). :: Pork Pork exports showed strong expansion. In the accumulated quarter, the State exported 182,400 tons, with revenues of US$ 454.3 million, representing growth of 4% and 7.5%, respectively. With these figures, Santa Catarina achieved the best performance in the historical series during this period, both in volume and revenue. Japan led the destinations for Santa Catarina pork, with 31.7% of the total revenue, followed by the Philippines and China. The Japanese market showed strong growth, with an increase of 59.8% in exported volume and 53.7% in revenue, reflecting the high Asian demand for Brazilian protein. Santa Catarina accounted for 47.8% of the volume and 50.1% of the revenue from Brazilian exports in the sector during the first three months of the year. Chicken Meat: In the accumulated quarter, 316,700 tons of chicken meat were shipped, generating US$664.3 million, representing increases of 3.2% in volume and 7.7% in revenue. This result represents the best performance in the historical series in terms of revenue and the second highest volume ever recorded for the period. Epagri/Cepa analyst Alexandre Giehl explains that despite the positive scenario, chicken meat shipments to the Middle East declined in March, with drops of 22% in volume and 23.8% in revenue compared to February. "The contraction reflects geopolitical tensions in the region, which have caused logistical delays and increased costs," he highlights. According to the analyst, the growth in exports to other important destinations, such as Japan, China, and Chile, compensated for the drop in shipments to the Middle East. Santa Catarina accounted for 24.5% of the revenue and 22.3% of the volume of chicken meat exported by Brazil. 

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.