Brazil expands exports to China with first DDGS and poultry meal shipments
Apr, 07, 2026 Posted by Gabriel MalheirosWeek 202614
Brazil has expanded its export portfolio to China with the first shipments of DDGS, or distillers dried grains with solubles, and poultry by-product meal to the Asian country. The shipments mark the opening and consolidation of new trade flows between the two countries.
DDGS, a co-product of corn ethanol production, was cleared for access to the Chinese market in May 2025 after Brazil and China concluded sanitary negotiations. In November of the same year, the first Brazilian facilities were approved to export the product.
As a result, the first cargo, totaling about 62,000 tonnes, was shipped and discharged at the port of Nansha in Guangzhou, southern China.
Recent container throughput data points to a fast-growing market for Brazilian DDGS exports (HS code 23021000). According to figures obtained by Datamar for the January-February 2026 period, Brazilian shipments of the product rose 507.6% from the same period a year earlier.
The chart below provides a historical overview of Brazil’s DDGS exports (HS code 23021000) to all destinations between January 2023 and February 2026:
DDGS Exports | Jan 2023 – Feb 2026 | TEUs
In the case of poultry by-product meal, used in animal feed, the first shipment follows the opening of the Chinese market in April 2023. The authorization allowed Brazilian product to enter the Asian country, expanding commercial opportunities for the sector.
The progress in shipments reflects coordination between the government and the private sector to open new markets and strengthen Brazil’s position in international trade in agricultural inputs and by-products.
Diversification gains ground in trade with China
The new trade flows point to a broader diversification of Brazil’s export basket, traditionally concentrated in commodities such as soybeans, corn and meat.
With the addition of products such as DDGS and animal-origin meal, Brazil is expanding its presence in segments linked to animal nutrition and the agribusiness value chain.
China remains the main destination for Brazilian agribusiness
China continues to stand out as the leading destination for Brazilian agribusiness exports. With an estimated population of 1.4 billion, the country remains a strategic market for the sector.
In 2025, Brazilian agricultural exports to China exceeded $55.3 billion, representing 32.7% of everything shipped by the country’s agribusiness sector.
Source: Feed&Food
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