SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazil on Friday confirmed its first case of the highly contagious bird flu virus on a commercial chicken farm in the south of the nation, triggering a temporary trade ban from its main trade partner China.

*Brazil is the world's largest meat exporter and second largest producer behind the United States.

*Brazil's total chicken meat exports hit a record volume of 5.294 million metric tons in 2024, according to trade data compiled by industry group ABPA.

*Brazil generated $9.928 billion in export revenue last year, also a record.

*China was Brazil's main chicken export destination, importing some 562,200 metric tons in 2024, followed by the United Arab Emirates, with 455,100 metric tons, Japan, with 443,200 tons, and Saudi Arabia, with 370,800 tons, according to the data.

*Other major export destinations included South Africa, the Philippines, the European Union, Mexico and South Korea.