The bigger picture: Positive outlook for broiler production

Rabobank foresees a positive year for the broiler sector in Europe.

The bank expects a good balance between supply and demand in 2023. The supply of chicken is increasing slightly but global supply remains tight. As a relatively cheap animal protein source, demand for broiler meat remains high.

Limited supply is partly related to avian influenza in Europe and Latin America. For the European sector it is argued that it would make sense for producers to keep the supply in balance with the market, as far as possible. This will become especially important in the European summer months when bird flu risks are lower and producers tend to expand production.

The broiler sector also faces challenges. Feed prices in Europe are high. This puts export volumes under pressure and leads to an increase in imports. Imports from Ukraine rose sharply due to the lifting of import restrictions.