European poultry producers are enjoying a period of firm market conditions, with the latest European Commission poultry dashboard showing broiler prices reaching €299.11 per 100kg carcass weight in week 21 of 2026. Prices are up 1.3% on the previous week, 3.0% on the previous month and 1.4% higher than a year ago.
Production is also expanding. EU poultry meat output increased by 2.8% during the first two months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, while broiler chick placements continue to track ahead of previous years, indicating further growth in supply. Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania recorded some of the strongest production gains across the bloc.
Poland remains Europe’s largest poultry producer, delivering 2.89 million tonnes in 2025, followed by Spain, France, Germany and Italy. Together, the six largest producing member states account for 72% of total EU production, which reached 14.3 million tonnes last year. Broiler meat continues to dominate the sector, representing 87.1% of total EU poultry production.
Trade figures present a mixed picture. EU poultry imports rose 1.3% year-on-year in January 2026, driven largely by increased shipments from Brazil and Thailand. Imports from Brazil were up 15.3%, while Thai volumes increased 6.6%. Meanwhile, total EU export volumes fell 12.3% compared with January 2025, despite stronger demand from markets such as Vietnam and Switzerland.
The report also highlights the competitive position of EU producers. At €299.11 per 100kg, EU broiler prices remain above those in the United States (€130.09) and Brazil (€236.52), reflecting both stronger market values and higher production costs across Europe.
Overall, the sector enters the second half of 2026 with solid prices, expanding production and resilient domestic demand, although growing import competition and softer export volumes will remain key issues for producers to watch.