Korea halts chicken imports from Brazil after bird flu outbreak

Korea halts chicken imports from Brazil after bird flu outbreak

최초입력 2025.05.19 10:48:06

(AFP/Yonhap)

South Korea has imposed a ban on imports of Brazilian chicken and eggs following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Brazil, the world’s largest chicken exporter.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Saturday that the ban covers Brazilian poultry meat, table eggs, and other poultry products, applying to shipments departing on or after May 15.
Shipments loaded within 14 days prior to the ban and arriving in Korea will undergo HPAI testing, with measures to be taken based on the results.
On Friday, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) confirmed the outbreak at a breeding poultry farm in Rio Grande do Sul.
This marks the first time HPAI has been detected at such a farm in Brazil.
The ban has raised concerns over possible price hikes for chicken-based products in Korea. According to the Korea Meat Trade Association, Brazil accounted for 88 percent of Korea’s chicken imports last year.
Most Brazilian chicken is imported frozen and widely used in boneless products, especially in boneless fried chicken, small or mid-sized chicken brands, and the restaurant sector.
Given that Brazilian chicken costs roughly half to one-third the price of domestic chicken, price increases are seen as likely.
The impact on the broader domestic chicken market, however, is expected to be limited, as Korea’s chicken self-sufficiency rate exceeds 80 percent.
According to the Korea Rural Economic Institute’s agricultural outlook for this year, the rate stood at 83.3 percent in 2024.
Major Korean fried chicken franchises said they remain largely unaffected as they use domestic chicken.
“We currently source our chicken domestically, having shifted back after briefly using Brazilian chicken for certain boneless menu items during previous domestic supply disruptions,” said an official from BHC.
BBQ, operated by Genesis BBQ Co., also emphasized that most of its products use domestic chicken.
Kyochon Food & Beverage Co. said it uses both domestic and Thai chicken.
The government plans to meet with industry stakeholders on Monday to assess the situation following the import ban.
[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지]

매일경제

Korea halts chicken imports from Brazil after bird flu outbreak

많이 본 뉴스