The global poultry market is huge, worth $378.84 billion in 2023 and expected to hit $487.39 billion by 2027. This growth is fast, with poultry production jumping from 94 million tons in 2009 to 131 million tons in 2019. That’s a 3.37% annual growth rate¹.

What’s even more amazing is that 15.2% of this poultry, or 20 million tons, is shipped to different countries¹.

Key Takeaways

• The global poultry market is valued at $378.84 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $487.39 billion by 2027.
• Global poultry production has increased from 94 million tons in 2009 to 131 million tons in 2019, a CAGR of 3.37%.
• Around 15.2% of the global poultry production, or 20 million tons, is exported to various markets.
• The top 10 broiler producers in the world collectively slaughter 13,081 million chickens annually, accounting for over 48% of all chickens slaughtered by the 50 biggest poultry companies.
• Brazil and the United States are the leading producers of chicken meat, collectively representing about a third of global poultry production.

Introduction to Global Poultry Production

The poultry industry has grown a lot in recent years. This growth comes from more people wanting eggs and meat². Today, the poultry market is worth $378.84 billion and is growing fast, aiming to hit $487.39 billion by 2027².

Poultry Market Size and Growth

Poultry production has been on the rise, becoming a big part of our food supply³. In 2020, the poultry market was worth $310.7 billion and is set to grow to $322.55 billion in 2021³. By 2025, it’s expected to reach $422.97 billion, growing at a 7% rate³. Chicken meat made up 40.6% of all meat produced in 2020, totaling 337.3 million tons³.

Factors Driving Poultry Demand

Several factors have led to the growth of the poultry industry. Poultry is nutritious and affordable, making it popular with many people⁴. It’s also more efficient to produce than other meats, like beef and pork, which has helped it grow⁴. The increasing population and more people moving to cities have also boosted demand for poultry⁴.

As the world’s population grows, finding sustainable and efficient protein sources is key. Poultry is becoming a top choice, offering a reliable and affordable way to get nutrition⁴. This change has greatly impacted the poultry industry, driving its growth and change⁴.

“Approximately 80 percent of rural households in developing countries are engaged in poultry farming, highlighting its significance as an income-generating activity.”⁴

The poultry industry’s ability to adapt and meet new market demands has been crucial to its success. As it continues to innovate and grow, it will likely play a bigger role in the future of food production².

The Largest Chicken Meat Producers in the World

A few countries lead the global poultry industry, producing most of the chicken meat⁵. The top 10 include the United States, Brazil, China, Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Poland, and Turkey⁵. These countries are key in the global poultry scene. The United States, Brazil, and China are the biggest chicken meat producers.

The United States is the top poultry producer, making 23 million tons in 2020⁵. Companies like Cargill Meat Solutions and Tyson Foods are huge, with sales over $165 billion and $53.282 billion respectively in 2022⁵. Pilgrim’s also made $17.5 billion in sales that year⁵.

Brazil and China are also big in poultry. Brazil made 14.7 million tons in 2022 and was the top poultry exporter in 2023⁵. China produced 14.3 million tons in 2022, making it the third-biggest producer.

Countries like Russia, Mexico, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Poland, and Turkey are also big in chicken production⁵. They have strong poultry industries, helping the global market grow and diversify.

“The global poultry industry is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, with the top chicken-producing countries playing a pivotal role in shaping the market’s direction and growth.” – Industry Analyst

The world’s growing population and demand for protein will make these countries even more important⁶. They must meet global demand while adapting to new consumer tastes and environmental rules⁷.

United States: The Poultry Powerhouse

The United States leads the world in chicken meat production, making it a poultry powerhouse⁸. In 2022, the US made 21 million metric tons of broiler meat. This shows its efficiency and use of technology⁸.

U.S. Poultry Production Statistics

The US poultry industry is huge, with amazing production numbers. In 2022, it made 9.17 billion broilers and 59.3 billion pounds of live weight broilers⁸. These numbers prove the US is the top poultry producer worldwide.

Leading Chicken-Producing States

Some states are key players in US chicken production. Alabama, Arkansas, and Delaware lead the way, with Alabama making the most chicken⁸.

These states are leaders in chicken production thanks to their strong poultry infrastructure and farming practices. They have a long history of excellence in the US poultry industry⁸.

“The US poultry industry is known for its efficiency and technological advancements, producing 21 million metric tons of broiler meat in 2022.”

⁸

Brazil: The Chicken Export Giant

Brazil is a top player in the chicken industry, being the second-largest chicken meat producer in the world⁹. It leads as the biggest chicken exporter, planning to send about 5 million tons of chicken this season. This makes up over a third of the world’s chicken trade in 2024⁹.

Brazilian Chicken Brands and Companies

Leading the way in Brazil’s chicken industry are big names like Seara, Perdigão, Frangosul, and Sadia. These companies play a big role in Brazil’s chicken production and exports¹⁰. They use the latest technology and focus on being more eco-friendly¹⁰.

Minerva, Cooperativa Central Aurora Alimentos, and Pluma Agroavícola are also big names in Brazil’s poultry scene¹⁰. They use genetic improvements to make their chickens more productive and resilient. This ensures a steady supply of quality chicken for both local and global markets¹⁰.

Brazil’s poultry success comes from its low production costs and staying competitive worldwide⁹. It has also avoided the effects of bird flu that hit other big chicken producers, like Europe⁹.

Brazil is also great at meeting global demand, especially for halal chicken. It has strong partnerships that help its chicken exports grow⁹.

“Brazil’s poultry industry has become a global powerhouse, leveraging its competitive advantages to dominate the international chicken export market.”

Even though Brazil’s chicken exports are down a bit from last year, it’s still the top chicken exporter in the world⁹.

China: Balancing Domestic Demand and Production

China, the world’s most populous nation, is a big name in the poultry industry. It’s the third-largest chicken meat producer, making about 14.7 million metric tons in 2021. This is around 13% of the world’s chicken meat¹¹¹². The country’s poultry includes chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Chicken makes up 70% of poultry production and 85% of eggs in China.

China focuses on meeting its huge poultry demand efficiently. It aims to keep its place in the global poultry market¹³. The environmental impact of chicken meat production in China is about 7.44 kg CO2 eq per unit. Most of this comes from maize feed production¹².

China is working on making its poultry industry more sustainable and efficient. It’s looking to lessen the environmental effects of feed production and improve broiler production¹². For example, the bioavailability of bromhexine hydrochloride in broilers is 20.06% ± 10.84%¹².

As the poultry market changes, China must balance its domestic demand with sustainable production. This will help it stay a top player in the industry¹³. China, Brazil, and the USA are expected to lead in poultry meat production. Their actions will affect the global poultry market by 2024¹³.

“China’s poultry sector encompasses not only chickens but also ducks, geese, and turkeys, with chicken accounting for 70% of its poultry production and 85% of the country’s total egg production.”

Russia: The Low-Cost Poultry Producer

Russia is a big name in the poultry industry, known for its low costs and fast growth¹⁴. The country’s poultry industry is a big part of its agriculture, making a lot of broiler meat and eggs¹⁴.

Russia’s Poultry Breeding Initiatives

Russia focuses on using less imported genetics and improving its breeding programs¹⁵. In 2020, it made 6.7 million tons of poultry and almost 45 billion eggs, which is 3% of the world’s eggs¹⁴. But, the number of poultry farms has gone down, from 5,650 in February 2022 to 4,900 in 2024, a 13.2% drop¹⁵.

To fix this, the Russian government plans to open a new breeding center in Moscow Oblast¹⁵. This will help make the country less dependent on imported genetics and boost its poultry breeding.

But, the poultry industry in Russia is facing more problems. Prices for poultry meat and eggs have gone up a lot. By November-December 2023, chicken prices rose by 29.26%, and egg prices by 40.29%¹⁵. Also, the number of poultry in the country went down by 3.2% in November 2023, and the amount of poultry meat made dropped by 3% too¹⁵.

There’s also a big drop in imports of breeding poultry stock, down by 60% in two years, to about 300 million units in 2023¹⁵. This has raised worries about how Russian poultry farmers will keep up production and meet demand.

Even with these problems, Russia is still a big player in the poultry industry. It uses its low costs and government support to improve its breeding programs. This keeps it as a top producer of poultry meat and eggs¹⁴.

“Russia’s poultry industry is a key component of the country’s agricultural sector, with Russia producing substantial amounts of broiler meat and eggs within the global poultry market.”

Mexico: A Rising Force in Poultry Production

Mexico is becoming a big name in the poultry industry worldwide. It’s the fifth-biggest producer of animal feed globally, with half of it going to poultry¹⁶. In 2022, Mexico made 3.9 million metric tons of chicken meat, a 35% jump from 2010¹⁶. Chihuahua and Yucatan lead in turkey production in Mexico¹⁷.

The poultry industry makes up 63% of Mexico’s livestock production. Six out of ten kilograms of meat eaten in Mexico come from poultry¹⁶. By 2021, Mexico was expected to consume 4.66 million metric tons of chicken meat¹⁶. Chicken is a big favorite in Mexican homes, making up 60% of meat choices¹⁶.

There are about 46,700 places to buy chicken meat in Mexico, making over $1.3 billion (27.8 billion Mexican pesos)¹⁶. In 2019, the U.S. supplied 87% of Mexico’s chicken meat, while Brazil supplied 12% in 2020¹⁶. But, Mexico’s chicken exports were expected to stay the same in 2021¹⁶.

The growth of poultry in Mexico comes from a bigger population, higher incomes, and more people choosing poultry for protein¹⁶. The industry uses a lot of domestic feed, with 55% of Mexico’s 40 million metric tons going to poultry¹⁷.

“The poultry industry in Mexico is a vital component of the country’s agricultural landscape, contributing significantly to its overall meat production and consumption trends.”

Mexico is getting better at making poultry, making it a key player in the global market¹⁶¹⁷.

European Union: A Collective Poultry Prowess

The European Union (EU) is a big name in the world of poultry production in Europe. It’s a key player thanks to its large-scale production. Poland stands out in the EU poultry industry, leading the way in the Poland’s chicken industry.

Poland’s Poultry Industry Dominance

Poland has become a leader in European poultry, producing 2,729 metric tons in 2022¹⁸. Its low production costs make it competitive, about €0.10/kg to €0.25/kg (US$0.12/kg to US$0.31/kg) cheaper than other top producers¹⁸. This lets Poland stand out in the global market.

The Polish poultry industry is growing fast. It’s driven by more people eating chicken, exporting more, and making production more efficient. Poland’s producers use their strengths to grab a big part of the European market. This makes Poland a top player in the EU poultry industry.

Poland’s poultry success is clear in its big production numbers and its ability to compete worldwide. As the EU remains important in poultry production in Europe, Poland’s poultry industry is a key example of the region’s strength¹⁸.

Emerging Poultry Markets and Producers

The demand for poultry has grown a lot in developing countries. These countries were once limited in their poultry production due to lack of resources. Now, India, Indonesia, and Thailand are becoming big players in the poultry market¹⁹.

India is the seventh-largest producer of poultry meat and eggs globally. It produces over 4.78 million tons of chicken and 129.6 billion eggs every year¹⁹. Indonesia is also a big producer, making 3,889 thousand metric tons of poultry meat in 2023¹⁹. Thailand’s poultry sector is among the top four in Asia and eighth globally for poultry meat production.

Emerging markets are now key in the global poultry industry²⁰. China’s role in global meat exports is dropping, showing a shift in the poultry market²⁰. Global meat exports have only slightly decreased, with China’s share dropping by a third. This shows the rise of new poultry producers¹⁹. The US and China were the biggest chicken producers in 2021, making up a third of global production at the time.

The poultry industry is changing, with a focus on cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and ethical practices²¹. Chicken production has become cheaper, with costs dropping to a third of what they were 30 years ago²¹. Chicken also has a smaller carbon footprint than other animal proteins, emitting less harmful gases²¹. Programs like the “Better Chicken Commitment” in the US and Canada are improving poultry growing conditions and slaughter methods.

Source Links

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