• Ethiopia authorizes imports of meat, dairy, and genetic livestock inputs from Brazil
• Move aims to diversify supply and improve domestic livestock productivity
• Deal strengthens Brazil’s growing footprint in Africa’s protein markets

Ethiopia has opened its market to a wide range of livestock products from Brazil, including beef, pork, poultry, and offal, according to a statement published April 8 on the Brazilian government’s website.

The decision follows negotiations between Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Beyond meat, the authorization also covers dairy products, pet food, fishery products, animal feed inputs, and more specialized items such as fingerlings, fertile eggs, day-old chicks, and animal genetic material, including semen and embryos. The agreement further allows the export of live cattle for slaughter, fattening, and breeding.

The move reflects Ethiopia’s effort to diversify its sources of food supply. The inclusion of genetic material and breeding livestock also points to a strategy aimed at improving herd productivity through genetic enhancement.

Brazil has a strong reputation in this area, particularly for cattle breeds adapted to tropical conditions, and holds a leading position in global animal protein markets. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Brazil is the world’s second-largest producer of beef after the United States and the top global exporter. It is also the fifth-largest producer of dairy products.

Ethiopia, for its part, has set ambitious targets for its livestock sector, particularly in dairy. Under its National Dairy Development Strategy, the government aims to increase milk production to 28.4 million tons by 2031, up from about 4 million tons annually through 2023, in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency.

In the meantime, the country continues to rely on imports to meet demand for dairy and other animal protein products. Data from Trade Map shows that Ethiopia imported about $8.1 million worth of meat and edible offal in 2024, $11.9 million in dairy products, and $8.2 million in live animals.

A new step in Brazil’s expansion across African markets

For Brazil, access to the Ethiopian market offers an opportunity to strengthen its position in supplying animal protein to Africa, where its industry is already gaining ground.

According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), the country exported 965,699 tons of chicken meat to 44 African countries in 2024, up 18.25% year over year and 74% higher than in 2020. The figures reflect the growing presence of Brazilian products across the continent.

In addition to poultry, Brazil exported 106,392 tons of pork to 22 African countries, 21,064 tons of turkey meat to 20 countries, and 791 tons of eggs to 12 countries in 2024. In this context, Ethiopia’s market opening represents another lever to consolidate that expansion.

Stéphanas Assocle