The amount of chicken Brazil exported to China grew to about 57,100 tonnes last month, 49 percent more than a year earlier, as African swine fever reduced the Chinese domestic supply of meat, Reuters reports.

The news agency, citing Brazilian meat industry association ABPA, says China was the biggest importer of Brazilian chicken in May, with a share of almost 15 percent.

The report says Brazil sold 381,100 tonnes of the chicken abroad last month, 14.4 percent more than a year earlier, meaning it was the biggest exporter of chicken in the world.

Chicken exports earned Brazil US$658.9 million last month, 27.3 percent more than a year earlier, the report says.

Reuters quotes the executive director of the Brazilian meat industry association, Ricardo Santin, as saying on Friday: “The disruption in the market created by China is happening at a moment when other importers are increasing their purchases.”