Brazil emerges as the world leader in halal food exports

Brazil confirms its position as the leading supplier of food products to member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In 2024, its exports to these markets reached 33.3 billion dollars, ahead of China with 32.6 billion, India with 28.7 billion, the United States with 21 billion and Turkey with 18.7 billion dollars.vThese figures come from the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2025/26, a benchmark study devoted to the global Islamic economy. This twelfth edition is produced by DinarStandard, an American research and consulting firm specializing in Islamic economics. The report analyzes seven sectors, including halal food, Islamic finance, tourism, fashion, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

According to this report, the global halal food market was worth $1.53 trillion in 2024. It is expected to reach $2.06 trillion by 2029, confirming that halal is no longer a niche market, but a major sector of the global economy. Brazil’s position is mainly based on its exports of animal proteins, notably halal-certified chicken and beef. To access Muslim markets, companies must meet specific requirements regarding slaughtering, selection of raw materials, processing, storage and transportation of products.

Halal certification has thus become a real lever of competitiveness for the Brazilian agri-food industry. It guarantees respect for religious rules, but it is also associated with traceability, food safety and transparency of the entire production chain. This progression does not prevent certain occasional drops. According to Datamar, Brazilian exports of chicken meat to the Middle East fell by 8.5% between January and May 2026, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Datamar is a company specializing in the analysis of maritime trade and international trade in South America. Its DataLiner database tracks imports and exports by country, product, port, carrier or company. It brings together more than 200 categories of regularly updated data on South American trade flows. Faced with expected market growth, Brazil is now looking to go beyond increasing volumes. The country wants to diversify its offer and offer more halal products with high added value, by focusing on innovation, technology and sustainability.

Digital tools occupy an increasing place in this strategy. Electronic verification systems and QR codes make it possible to check the authenticity of certificates and track the origin of ingredients, their processing and transport. The SGIE 2025/26 report also identifies certification assisted by artificial intelligence and traceability by blockchain among the main developments in the sector. To maintain its leadership, Brazil will therefore have to continue to strengthen the quality, reliability and transparency of its production. In a market expected to exceed $2 trillion by 2029, opportunities remain considerable for countries able to meet the expectations of Muslim consumers.