What was long treated as waste in Brazilian butcher shops has become one of the most profitable products in the chicken industry. Chicken feet, rarely consumed in Brazil, have gone from being an item with no commercial value to a delicacy sought after on the international market, especially by China, becoming a highly lucrative business for the national industry.

In the markets of São Paulo, the price per kilo has reached R$ 14 (US$ 2.7), reflecting the appreciation of a traditional food in Asian culture. Wholesale prices are lower, but have still risen sharply in recent years. In 2026, the average price of chicken feet in the state reached R$ 5.75 per kilo, an increase of 41.3% compared to 2020.

In 2009, China officially authorised imports of the product, permanently changing the logic of the sector. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, last year alone Brazil earned US$ 221 million from the sale of chicken feet to China, the main destination for the product. The amount represented a 9.5% increase over exports in 2024.

(Source: Pernambuco Notícias, on 7 February)