Turkey consumption in Ecuador is a seasonal thing, mainly Christmas. And the season has started with the increase in turkey production and a decrease in imports.
Turkey can be found throughout the year, however the December holidays are the main time of consumption for this product.
According to the National Poultry Farmers Corporation (CONAVE), in 2012 the national turkey production reached 9,492 metric tonnes (mt), or 86% more than the 2006 level of 5,081 mt. At these levels it was possible to meet national requirements by about 95%. The sector intends to continue increasing production to completely meet domestic demand.
So far, turkey imports have decreased in 2013 compared to 2012, from 70.33 tonnes to 61.29 tonnes this year, according to the Central Bank of Ecuador.
In Ecuador an average of 10,000 tonnes of turkey is consumed annually, which corresponds to about 1 kilo per person, similar levels to Colombia and Peru. Over 90% of consumption can be visible between November and December.
A kilo of turkey meat in Ecuador has an average price of US$ 4.40 in supermarkets, while in the markets can be obtained between US$2.80 and US$3.50.