Poultry trade predictions for 2007

The main forecast for the year is that meat and poultry trade will be stronger, owing to a decline in disease-related restrictions.

The report states: “Poultry trade by selected countries will remain strong in 2007. Exports by major traders of…broiler meat will increase by…4.1 percent. Trade is expected to continue to recover from animal disease outbreaks [such as] avian influenza and [its] resulting trade impact.”

The FAS predicts that US broiler meat exports will increase 2.2 percent in 2007 to 2.5 million tons. US turkey exports are also forecast to experience strong growth in 2007 rising 7.9 percent to 261,000 tons.

Following a succession of annual increases in exports from 1999-2005, Brazilian broiler exports are expected to decrease in 2006 due to weakening demand in some of its major export markets.

Despite a forecasted import decline in broiler meat imports by Russia and Japan in 2007, imports by major traders are forecast to increase over 3 percent to over 5.3 million tons.

EU broiler meat imports are expected to increase substantially in 2006 (15 percent) and are forecast to increase nearly 8 percent in 2007 to 645,000 tons.

Russia, the largest importer of broiler meat, is forecast to decrease imports in 2007 by over 7 percent to nearly 1.2 million tons. Russian imports are forecast to decrease as Russian poultry production has been increasing steadily in recent years and is expected to reach another record in 2007. The US supplies over 60 percent of its poultry import needs and the rest is covered mainly by Brazil.

Turkey meat imports by selected countries are forecast at 459,000 tons in 2007.

This information is taken from the US Department of Agriculture’s Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade forecast report.