In the first half of 2023, Poland produced 1.6 million tons of poultry, marking a 7% increase compared to the previous year, as reported by PoultryWorld.

Positive trend expected to continue

It is estimated that the positive trend will continue, but there are still risk factors to consider, according to Marcin Wroński, Deputy General Director of the National Center for Agricultural Support, speaking to local media.

"Given the current market conditions, including strong export demand, high domestic consumption – partially due to Ukrainian citizens – and the competitiveness of poultry compared to pork, we can anticipate an increase in poultry production throughout 2023. Poland will remain the largest producer of this product in the European Union," stated Wroński.

However, he added that certain risks will persist throughout the year, including relatively high production costs and the potential for avian flu outbreaks in the fall and winter months.

The recent months have seen a consistent decrease in retail prices for chicken meat, dropping from 5.89 PLN (1.35 USD) per kilogram to 5.32 PLN (1.22 USD) per kilogram, representing almost a 10% decrease.

Several factors contributed to this trend, including increased domestic production and reduced cost pressures. Additionally, some consumers have shifted from pork to poultry, Wroński noted.

"The moderate nature of the price decrease trend recorded in recent months has been ensured by the consistently high demand for this type of meat, in the face of price competitiveness with other sources of animal protein," Wroński mentioned.

Avian flu dynamics affecting exports

In 2023, several avian flu outbreaks in the European Union have significantly limited export opportunities for the poultry sector.

In the first five months of this year, European poultry producers sold just over 0.8 million tons of poultry meat in carcass equivalent to customers outside the EU, a 2% decrease compared to the previous year. The UK remained the largest importer of European poultry.

Nevertheless, Poland has managed to strengthen its position as the leading European exporter of poultry. In the first half of 2023, the country exported over 1 million tons of poultry, a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

Nearly 70% of this figure was sold within the EU, in line with previous years. At the same time, exports of poultry to non-EU markets increased by 2.3% to 300,000 tons, as reported by Wroński.