The chicken sector is one of the pillars of global food security and has been undergoing deep transformation boosted by productive scale, stricter regulatory demands and evolution of the international logistics chains.
What had previously been a predominantly regional operation has become a highly integrated system, in which operational efficiency, sanitary control and management of the cold chain are determinant for competitivity and access to markets.
In Latin America, this movement has gained strategic relevance. The region combines productive capacity, availability of inputs and favorable geographical position, whilst also facing increasing pressures on compliance, trackability and sustainability.
The chicken sector in Latin America
Latin America is a structural part of the balance in the worldwide supply of chicken meat. Brazil and Mexico concentrate a large part of the regional production, but operate with distinct strategies in the international market.
Brazil maintains its global leadership as exporter, sustained by scale, productive efficiency and capacity to attend to the diverse sanitary standards.
In 2025, Brazil exports of chicken meat reached 5,324 million tons, a growth of 0.6% in relation to 2024, setting a new historic record, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA).
The performance is particularly relevant as having taken place in a context of greater health regulation, after the first recorded case of avian flu in a commercial facility in the country, reinforcing the importance of robust control systems, rapid response and reliable logistics.
Whereas Mexico stands out for its strong place in the domestic market, with growing integration into the North American chains, which demand logistics and health standards increasingly aligned with international flows.
The importance of poultry farming in the global market
In the global context, chicken meat remains the animal protein most consumed in various regions, boosted by factors such as competitive cost, culinary versatility and lower environmental footprint in comparison with other proteins.
According to projections by the USDA, worldwide production is due to grow by about 15% by 2034, reaching approximately 162 million tons.
This growth is above all in emerging markets, due to the expansion in consumption per capita and the greater demand for processed and ready for consumption products.
In addition, poultry farming has strategic advantages in terms of productive efficiency, shorter cycles and greater predictability, factors that strengthen its position in a global environment marked for its economic and geopolitical volatility.
Chicken sector: stages and processes
The chicken sector operates in a highly integrated chain, where each stage directly influences the quality, the safety and the competitivity of the final product.
Production and processing
The process starts with the raising of the poultry, with the focus on balanced nutrition, biosecurity, animal well-being and rigorous sanitary control. These practices impact the quality of the meat directly and are frequently audited by importer markets.
In the processing phase, standardized industrial operations come into play, which includes the slaughter, cuts, chilling, freezing and packaging. At this stage, the control of time and temperature is determinant in preserving the sensorial and microbiological characteristics of the product.
Storage
After the processing, temperature-controlled storage takes on a critical role. Refrigerated and frozen environments allow the integrity of the chicken to be maintained, reducing losses and ensuring compliance with international health standards.
Proper management of the stocks, allied with thermal monitoring and trackability systems, guarantees operational predictability and supports the large scale export operations.
Distribution
The distribution connects the production with the consumer markets, often traveling long distances, and using different modes of transport. In this context, the refrigerated and frozen transport, associated with well synchronized logistics processes, is essential to maintaining the cold chain uninterrupted.
For exports, the proximity of the storage centers to strategic ports and airports reduces operational risks, improves the flow of cargoes and contributes to the fulfilling of deadlines and international contracts.
Standards and good practices to guarantee quality and safety
In an ever more regulated global environment, food safety is no longer just an operational requirement but has become an element in governance of the chain.
Health standards, trackability and continuous thermal control are now basic demands for access to and permanence in international markets. More than just complying with protocols, companies in the sector need to demonstrate capacity for monitoring, recording and response to divergence in real time.
This level of control strengthens the trust between producers, logistics operators and buyers, reduces reputation risk and improves the resilience of the chain when faced with unexpected sanitary or logistics events.
Challenges and opportunities in the sector
The chicken sector enters 2026 in a scenario marked by structural growth, but also by greater operational complexity.
The expansion of consumption in emerging markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East continues as a significant vector of demand, especially for processed products, specific cuts and convenience solutions.
At the same time, environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are influencing commercial decisions, long term contracts and access to certain markets. Energy efficiency, reduction of losses and transparency in the logistics chain are no longer a differential, but are now integrated as competitive requirements.
In this context, technologies applied to the cold chain, such as monitoring in real time, predictive analysis and digital integration of data are gaining space. They allow risks to be anticipated, flows to be optimized and transform logistics into a strategic asset, and not just an operational one.
Find out about our solutions for the chicken sector
At Emergent Cold LatAm, we work with strategic partners in the chicken sector, supporting companies that operate in an environment of high health standards, large volumes and sensitive margins.
Our refrigerated and frozen storage infrastructure, positioned at strategic logistics hubs in Latin America, enables greater operational predictability, integration with national and international flows, and reduction of risks throughout the chain.
We combine technology, rigorous thermal control and operational expertise to support more efficient logistics decisions, aligned with current and future demands of the global meat market.
