By Charlie Reeve
EU broiler prices appear to have levelled at about €3/kg after an exceptionally strong period for poultry meat prices during the first eight months of the year.
Broilers reached a new record high during the summer months at close to 310 eurocents a kg, and have since found and base in the market at just above €3/kg during the past month.
This has culminated in EU broiler prices standing at 301.8 eurocents a kg on 27 August, according to the latest figures from the European Commission.
EU broiler prices are currently 9% higher than the same time last year, and are up almost 2% on the previous month.
The gap between prices in the EU and the US has continued to widen, with prices in the US falling dramatically during the past month.
The US broiler price has dropped by roughly 60 eurocents a kg since the start of the year and averaged 225 eurocents a kg in late August.
This puts the current US prices at the equivalent to more than a 75 eurocents a kg discount to broilers in the EU.
Prices in Brazil remain at a significant discount to the wider global market, although have received some support in more recently, lifting to the equivalent of 114 eurocents a kg.
Poultry production
EU poultry production climbed came under pressure in August, following several months of growth, although still remain above historic levels for the time of year.
Total volumes stood at just shy of 900,000 tonnes, almost 100,000 tonnes higher on the year.
Despite a slightly monthly decline, the EU commission is still forecasting poultry meat production to exceed 14 million tonnes for the first time this year.
The EU remains firmly self-sufficient in poultry meat, operating at 108% self-sufficiency.
The pace and volume of EU exports slowed during the Spring with 681,800 tonnes of poultry meat shipped in the first four months of the year, down by 1.2% on the same period last year.
More than a third of this was destined for the UK market, which took in more than 240,000 tonnes during this period.
EU egg production
EU egg prices have started to climb again after several month of decline since peaking in April.
Prices increased by 1% in the last month are up by 31% compared with this time last year, standing at 256.3 eurocents a kg in late-August.
Egg prices in the US continue to outperform the EU market, however the gap has tightened with the US egg price falling to the equivalent of 319 eurocents a kg.
Meanwhile, prices in Brazil and India trail well behind at the equivalent to 130 eurocents a kg and 81 eurocents a kg.
The UK continues to be the EU’s largest export destination for eggs, importing 52,400 tonnes during the first four months of 2025.
At the same time, EU egg imports have had a sharp year-on-year rise, reaching roughly 50,000 tonnes, a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2024.