Paranaguá leads Brazil’s poultry exports with 47% share through May

Port authority Portos do Paraná handled 47.3% of Brazil’s poultry meat exports in the first months of 2026, after shipping a record 1.04 million tonnes of frozen poultry to international markets from January through May. In May alone, exports topped 208,000 tonnes, consolidating the Port of Paranaguá’s position as Brazil’s leading gateway for the product and one of the world’s key hubs for animal protein shipments.

Compared with the same period in 2025, when exports totaled 921,900 tonnes, volumes rose 13.1%. The previous record had been set in 2023, with 945,900 tonnes shipped. The figures come from Comex Stat, the federal government’s foreign trade database.

Datamar’s port throughput data helps shed light on another aspect of the story: which cargo owners contributed most to the rise in shipments through the Port of Paranaguá. According to the company’s data, the leading cargo owners with products shipped through the port were as follows:

Top Cargo Owners | Chicken Meat | Jan-Apr 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Portos do Paraná CEO Luiz Fernando Garcia said the performance reflects investments made in recent years.

“Investments in infrastructure, technology and operational training are essential to maintaining the competitiveness of Paraná’s ports and improving the quality of services provided to our clients,” he said.

In FOB value, Portos do Paraná accounted for the largest share of national revenue, with US$1.88 billion out of Brazil’s total US$4.08 billion.

China was the main destination for chicken meat exported through Paraná ports, receiving 114,200 tonnes, or 11% of the total shipped from Paranaguá. Other major markets included South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Saudi Arabia. In all, the product was shipped to more than 120 countries.

Reefer capacity supports growth

Portos do Paraná Operations Director Gabriel Vieira said Paranaguá’s infrastructure is one of the main reasons behind its national leadership.

“The key advantage is the terminal’s capacity to operate refrigerated containers. Paranaguá has, by far, the largest number of reefer plugs in Brazil, with more than 5,200 available connections,” he said.

Paraná’s role in Brazil’s poultry industry is another important factor. The state accounts for about 35% of Brazil’s poultry production for slaughter, and much of that volume is exported through Paraná ports.

Leadership in animal protein exports

Portos do Paraná also expanded its lead in Brazil’s broader animal protein exports. Including chicken, beef, pork, goat meat and fish, more than 1.4 million tonnes were shipped from January through May 2026, equivalent to 37% of Brazil’s exports in the segment.

Total meat exports through Paraná ports rose 9.9% from the same period in 2025.

For beef, the Port of Paranaguá shipped 277,500 tonnes between January and May. That was the second-largest volume in Brazil, giving the port a 24.7% share of national beef exports. China, the United States and Russia were the main destinations.

Pork exports through Paraná ports reached 84,800 tonnes in the year to date, up 6.5% from 79,600 tonnes in the same period of 2025.

More than 50 countries imported pork through Paraná ports, led by the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Source: Portos do Paraná

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