By Charlie Reeve
EU broiler prices dropped marginally in the last month back by 0.9% to average 279.24 eurocents a kg for the week ending 23 October.
However, prices were still 7.3% higher than the same month last year.
Broiler prices in the US have been on the rise and have started to close the gap that had emerged during the summer months.
The US broiler price was the equivalent to 260.97 eurocents a kg in mid-October, an 18 eurocents a kg discount to the EU price.
Broiler prices in Brazil have remained fairly steady and were the equivalent to 124 eurocents a kg in October, still a considerable discount to the US and EU.
EU broiler production has remained above last year’s levels so far during 2024, with production increasing further during September and October.
In October, production estimates indicate a further rise to 900,000 tonnes, putting it back in line with the peaks seen in June and July.
Poland accounted for the largest share of total EU poultry meat production in 2023 at 21%, followed by Spain (13%), Denmark (12%), France (11%), and Italy (10%).
EU egg production
EU egg prices have been well supported in recent months returning back above the 200 eurocents a kg mark.
The EU weekly average lifted to 216.88 eurocents a kg in mid-October, up by 6.3% on the previous month and back in line with the same month last year.
The main EU egg producers in 2023 were France, Denmark, and Spain with each accounting for roughly 14% of the total market share, this is followed by Italy at 12%. Total EU egg production was 6.78 million tonnes in 2023, which was 0.7% higher than in 2022.
Total EU egg exports reached 212,900 tonnes during the first seven months of 2024, up by 19% on the year.
The UK was the EU’s largest export destination during the first seven months of 2024, with 87,800 tonnes of eggs being imported into the UK from the EU.
This accounted for more than 40% of total EU egg exports and was an increase of 8.3% compared to the same period last year.
Ukraine remained the largest exporter of eggs to the EU with volumes up by 36% for the year to date.
More than 41,000 tonnes of eggs were imported by the EU from Ukraine, which accounted for about two thirds of total imports.
The UK was the second largest exporter to the EU with 9,200 tonnes being sent during the same period.
This was a 40% increase on the year but still considerably lower than the volume of eggs imported from the EU by the UK.