MENA (Middle East and North Africa) is now on the rise as one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions for frozen chicken exporter trade in the world. With rapid urbanization taking place, increasing disposable incomes, and a young population that desires convenience, ready-to-cook and Halal frozen chicken supplier products are being demanded now more than ever.

The industry is growing rapidly and is fueled by a market preference for quality, trustworthy and certified foods and also the efficiency of frozen supply. In 2024, frozen aggregate consumption of cuts of frozen chicken in MENA reached 2.4 million tons (+0.8% over 2023) and total market value reached $3.6 billion. Demand is expected to increase to 2.6 million tons by 2035 at a 0.7% CAGR, thus creating new opportunities for leading exporters in India, Brazil, Argentina and elsewhere.

MENA in Metrics: Demand by the Numbers

The numbers speak for themselves for exporters in the region:

Frozen Chicken Cuts:

• 2024 consumption—2.4 million tons (up 0.8% YoY)
• Market value rose to $3.6 billion
• Projected growth—2.6 million tons and $4.4 billion value by 2035
• CAGR: +0.7% in volume, +1.8% in value

Whole Chicken:

• Consumption in 2024—1.7 million tons (up 9.4% YoY)
• 2024 value—$3.3 billion, rising to $4.3 billion by 2035
• Growth rates: Volume CAGR at 1.8%, value CAGR at 2.5%

Chicken Meat Overall:

• MENA’s total chicken meat consumption reached 12 million tons in 2024
• Projected volume by 2035: 14 million tons, valued at $32.3 billion
• Growth: 1.4% volume CAGR, 2.7% value CAGR

Exporters are finding themselves in a fully-developed and established international trade in frozen chicken shipments and frozen chicken wholesale export transactions, with increasing demand for traceable, certified products and wholesale opportunities that demonstrate value. There is a much larger growth opportunity in certified frozen chicken supplier credentials and scale as global suppliers fulfill the opportunity presented in this growing ecosystem.

Top Markets: Who’s Eating MENA’s Frozen Chicken?

Who are the primary buyers and how much are they buying? The 2024 market breakouts reveal a narrative of concentrated, but developing, regional demand:

Frozen Chicken Cuts:

• Turkey: 428,000 tons (leader; 7.1% CAGR, highest growth rate in region)
• Saudi Arabia: 334,000 tons
• Iran: 302,000 tons
• Together, these top 3 account for ~44% of all regional consumption.

Whole Chicken:

• Saudi Arabia: 374,000 tons
• UAE: 271,000 tons
• Iraq: 246,000 tons
• Top 3 form nearly 54% of MENA’s whole chicken market

Per Capita Consumption (2024):

• UAE: 23 kg
• Qatar: 21 kg
• Saudi Arabia: 9.1 kg

Growth Leaders:

Turkey stands out for its annual growth both in cuts (+7.1%) and whole birds (+6.6%). This is positive news for exporters that provide wholesale halal frozen chicken supplier services given current trends, as it indicates a growing market will await those companies that can satisfy volume, certification, and quality. Global exporters of frozen chicken networks must stay relevant, and aware of volume, but also for differentiated, high-end requirements in the region’s most lucrative segments.

Why Frozen Wins: Convenience, Cost & Certification

There are several interrelated factors that propel frozen chicken’s dominance over fresh and processed options in MENA:

Certification & Trust:

• Halal certification is needed – a key driver in most MENA imports is the overwhelming ability to work with a halal certified frozen chicken exporter.
• Traceability and explicit country-of-origin labeling are required by government regulators & large retail chains.
• When Egypt lifted tariffs in 2023, a wave of imports increased product availability with falling consumer prices and expanded the bulk frozen chicken for importers.

Value & Accessibility:

• Imported frozen chicken acts as a price stabilizer, helping to smooth local supply shocks, e.g. feed cost shocks and disease issues.
• Cost-effective options appeal to institutions and retail buyers alike, particularly for events, catering and resale.
• China impact: UAE chicken breast imports from China surged to 2,500 mt/month in 2024, raising some questions on traceability and food safety.

Format Innovation:

• Vacuum-packed, ‘ready-to-cook’, consistent-safe packaging formats have high appeal to high-speed urban consumers and HoReCa buyer groups.
• Most major MENA governments leveraged a diversified order portfolio by establishing cold-storage and distribution systems, and maintaining contract access to certified frozen chicken suppliers.

Market requirements will continue to be Premium Quality, as regulatory authorities and major supermarket chains prefer suppliers to have both bulk frozen chicken for importing and retail-labeled supplies.

How Exporters Can Win MENA’s Market

For global suppliers, success is about format, country positioning, and value assurance:

Format Strategy:

• Bulk frozen cuts and whole bird that appeal to both the family/catering business segments as well as local butchers.
• Vacuum packaging, Halal documentation, and everything in the cold chain are vital.
• Custom labeling and private brand packaging are especially important to a global exporter of frozen chicken functions.

Country Positioning:

• Brazil comes out ahead in terms of scale and cost, thanks to strong avian flu controls, achieving revenue growth of 20.9% even amidst global outbreaks of the disease.
• Argentina, Thailand, India, USA, Ukraine and Poland are all developing niche segments based on their respective strengths in certification agility, cost prices and logistics.
• Egypt was a good example of the power realised by its tariff cut and consecutive import boom, despite limited supply potential.

Value Advantage:

• Halal-certified, high complicit suppliers (like in India or Brazil) have loyalty depending on the value of the retail, state, and foodservice tenders.
• Flexible options on container loads, permitted shipping and consistent cold-chain possibilities on top of made to order packaging sets top exporters apart.

Navigating Market Risks

Despite MENA’s attractive frozen chicken opportunity, exporters must prepare for quickly changing ground.

Policy Change:

• Sudden change: the process can be altered overnight with the removal of tariffs (or new bans), quotas or changes in government preferences.
• Egypt in 2023: Tariffs were eliminated, and imports shot up, incentivizing fast, cost-effective exporters.

Counterfeiting issues and risked traceability:

• Rapid increases in imports include risks of mislabelled and “grey channel” products.
• Rigid, traceability, labelling and documentation must still be forefront in every certified frozen chicken and halal frozen chicken supplier’s business plan.

Disease and compliance:

• Avian flu identified in Brazil (2025) led to a temporary ban from China although they are the volume leader for meat exports.
• Exporters must monitor outbreaks, adjust logistics in real time and ensure diversified market access to curtail disruptions in shipments.

The resilience of a halal certified frozen chicken exporter, as illuminated through the disruptions to their markets, protecting the value of their brand and their true compliance, is what will separate long-term success in the region.