Paraguayan poultry farmers seek export markets as local demand falls short

Paraguay's poultry farmers are sounding the alarm that the domestic market is becoming insufficient to handle the rapidly growing production of chicken meat. The sector is now producing close to 200,000 tons annually, prompting the Paraguayan Poultry Farmers Association (Avipar) to emphasize the critical need for new export markets. Néstor Zarza, president of Avipar, highlighted that new investments, such as the recent establishment of a JBS poultry processing plant, underscore the sector's expansion. He stated that securing more international buyers is essential to manage the increasing supply and alleviate pressure on the local market. Zarza pointed out that Paraguay, unlike larger economies like Brazil or Argentina, cannot rely solely on domestic consumption to absorb production fluctuations. Diversifying export destinations is considered a key challenge, as dependence on a few buyers creates uncertainty, particularly amid sanitary, commercial, or geopolitical restrictions. Recent successes, including market access to Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates, offer promising new avenues for Paraguayan poultry exports. Meanwhile, domestic chicken consumption is also rising, driven by the increasing cost of beef and evolving dietary habits.

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It is important to have more buyers to place our product. The chicken meat sector is having great production and it would be a solution to alleviate the local market.