Importers from the Middle East are already studying alternative routes to guarantee the receipt of Brazilian meat in light of the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Sea freight has become more expensive due to the increase in insurance premiums charged on ships that need to cross areas classified as at risk, in addition to there being reports of delays in deliveries.
According to an assessment by the (CCAB) Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, cargo transporting meat that was in transit may be redirected or even postponed, depending on the evolution of the geopolitical scenario.
The sector already plans that goods can be redirected to ports outside the most critical area of the Gulf, including terminals located in the Gulf of Oman, or follow routes that use the Suez Canal.
In some cases, the alternative is to unload the cargo in neighboring countries and complete the journey by land to the final destination.
In an interview with CNN Agro News, the CEO of Agrifatto, Lygia Pimentel, highlighted that this is currently one of the main obstacles for the meat sector. According to her, sea freight became more expensive with the increase in vessel insurance, a movement that directly impacts the margins of Brazilian exporters.
The secretary general of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Mohamad Orra Mourad, also clarifies that demand for proteins should remain firm and that countries will continue to import protein from Brazil.
Furthermore, the sector registered an intensification of shipments at the end of 2025 in an effort to build stocks for the festive date of Ramadan, but also a reflection of the normalization of trade at this time post tariffs.
“Proteins are considered essential items and, at this time of year, Islamic countries increase purchases due to Ramadan, when there is greater consumption of food after sunset,” he informed CNN Brasil.
In an interview with CNN Money, agribusiness specialist and professor at Insper Agro Marcos Jank, the effects of the escalation of conflicts are not restricted to Iran, but also affect countries that maintain a strong commercial relationship with Brazil, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to him, the impacts are not yet immediate, but could become more relevant if the instability continues, especially for the meat sector, which directly depends on the logistical fluidity and stability of the region’s markets.
a movement that has boosted Brazilian exports of strategic inputs for this chain.
The secretary also highlights that many Gulf countries operate with regulatory stocks to guarantee domestic supply and maintain their re-export activity, which helps to avoid an abrupt interruption in trade.
Chicken
MIDC data (Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services) indicate that the Middle East imported around US$3 billion last year, a volume that represented 34.8% of all national exports of the product in the period, consolidating the region as one of the main markets for poultry protein in Brazil.
According to Ricardo Santin, president of ABPA (Brazilian Animal Protein Association), Brazil ships between 80 thousand and 100 thousand tons of halal chicken to the Middle East every month. Among the main destinations are United Arab Emirates, Oman e Yemen.
The leadership reported that the sector is following the situation with apprehension. According to him, ports in the region were closed preventatively by shipping companies, which makes new operations difficult.
“Although there are logistical alternatives, such as routes through Suez Canal or the Cape of Good Hope, maritime companies would be avoiding accepting new reservations given the scenario of uncertainty”, he informed.
He also highlights that there is a large volume of cargo already in transit, considering that the average travel time to the Middle East can reach 40 days. The sector is evaluating alternative routes, such as landing in ports in the Mediterranean, Europe or Turkey, but these options depend on specific authorizations and licenses from the countries that would temporarily receive the goods.
Despite recent logistical difficulties, demand was on a growth trajectory. THE Saudi Arabiafor example, increased purchases of Brazilian chicken by more than 15%.
For 2026, the sector’s expectation is for a more consistent recovery and booming trade, a movement already signaled in the last quarter of 2025, when sales increased 8.2% in the annual comparison.
beef
they could register a drop of between 30% and 40% if the logistical bottlenecks caused by the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States continue. In an interview with CNN Brasil, the president of ABIEC (Brazilian Association of Beef Exporting Industries), Roberto Perosa, stated that the sector is following with apprehension the escalation of the conflict and its possible repercussions on the entire national livestock chain.
According to him, the financial impact could reach US$6 billion, considering the business volume that depends on the affected routes. “We exported around US$2 billion to that region alone last year, but between US$5 billion and US$6 billion transit through that region, with great difficulty in relocation”, highlighted Perosa.
Among the main destinations for Brazilian beef, two Arab markets concentrated the largest purchases. THE Egypt imported US$375.35 million, an increase of 24.53% in the annual comparison. Already the Saudi Arabia acquired US$333.10 million, an increase of 29.90%.
