By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian food processor BRF, the world’s largest chicken exporter, said on Thursday it earned 735 million reais ($136 million) in the second quarter despite disruptions from a bird flu outbreak in May that triggered trade bans.

The company, which also processes pork and prepared food products, said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a measure of operating income known as EBITDA, was 2.5 billion reais in the period, in line with the average of analysts’ forecasts.

Sales totaled 15.36 billion reais, a 2.9% annual rise, BRF said.

Citing official trade data, BRF executives said the bird flu outbreak caused Brazilian poultry exports to fall 15% in the quarter while the company’s own poultry exports dropped 5%, indicating it was

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