Brazil secures access to Malaysian market for halal poultry exports
ABPA president hopes to secure market for pork as well
28 March 2025
1 minute read
By: Brazil has gained access to the Sarawak market in Malaysia for halal-certified poultry exports, following successful negotiations led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) celebrated the announcement, which marks a new chapter in Brazil’s expanding presence in Southeast Asia.
Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state with a population of around 2.6 million, approved the import of Brazilian chicken meat after a series of technical and diplomatic missions. A Malaysian delegation visited Brazil in October 2023 to assess poultry and beef production systems. This led to a follow-up mission during which Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture signed a health certificate authorising the trade.
Three Brazilian poultry plants—located in Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Paraná—received export approval.
“Although Sarawak is a predominantly non-Muslim autonomous state, all shipments will follow halal standards, in line with Malaysian requirements,” said ABPA president Ricardo Santin.
Santin added that Brazil hopes to expand its access further, with ongoing negotiations aimed at opening the Sarawak market to Brazilian pork. He noted that Brazil’s poultry exports would complement local production and help stabilise food prices in a region grappling with biosecurity issues and inflation.
“We have good expectations regarding this market, where we will act in a complementary manner to local protein production,” he said.
