Smurfit Westrock supports the first shipment of Colombian chicken to Asia

Read how sustainable, high‑performance packaging from Smurfit Westrock played a decisive role in Colombia’s milestone export of chicken to Japan.

As global demand for chicken continues to grow, frozen chicken exports surpassed US$38.8 billion in 2024, reinforcing poultry’s role as one of the world’s most consumed and accessible proteins. Within this expanding market, Colombia is emerging as a competitive poultry exporter, backed by strong production capacity, high sanitary standards, and coordinated industry leadership. In a historic milestone, Colombia exported chicken to Japan for the first time—one of the most demanding international markets—using packaging solutions designed by Smurfit Westrock.

The Challenge

Entering highly regulated markets such as Asia requires more than production excellence. Exported chicken must arrive in perfect condition after long international journeys, complying with strict sanitary, logistical, and quality requirements. Packaging became a critical challenge: it needed to preserve freshness, withstand humidity and cold-chain conditions, protect the product throughout transport, and align with rising expectations for sustainability and traceability.

The Approach

With more than 80 years of experience in Colombia, Smurfit Westrock partnered closely with its client and the poultry sector to design a packaging solution tailored to these challenges. Over several months, multidisciplinary teams collaborated to understand logistical constraints, international regulations, and biosecurity requirements. The result was a sustainable, high-performance corrugated packaging solution that met Japan’s stringent standards while supporting efficient handling and transportation.

The Result

The successful export of Colombian chicken to Japan marked a turning point for the national poultry industry and demonstrated Colombia’s ability to compete in the world’s most demanding markets. The packaging solution played a strategic role in safeguarding product quality, building trust with international buyers, and enabling market access. This achievement highlights the power of collaboration and innovation, positioning Colombian chicken as a reliable, sustainable, and high-quality protein on the global stage—and reinforcing Smurfit Westrock’s role as a trusted partner in enabling global growth.

Products used by this client

Meat Packaging Trays

Our protein packaging and meat packing trays deliver strength, visibility and sustainability—satisfying retailer requirements and brand needs with efficient, paper-based designs built for performance.

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