By Charlie Reeve
EU broiler prices have lifted marginally again in the last month to average 277.31 eurocents a kg for the week ending 21 August.
This has extended the lead further on the same month last year with prices up by 4.5% on last September.
US broiler prices were roughly in line with the EU during the first half of 2024, however a widening gap has emerged during the summer months with prices in the US falling back.
Broiler prices in the US were the equivalent to 252.10 eurocents a kg in mid-August, a 25 eurocents a kg discount to the EU.
Broiler prices in Brazil have lifted slightly in the last few weeks, however, remain a notable discount to prices in the US and EU at the equivalent to 123.14 eurocents a kg.
EU broiler production has remained strong throughout 2024, with production higher than during the same period in 2022 and 2023.
In September, production was estimated to have lifted on the previous month edging closer to the 900,000 tonne mark again as seen in July, which was the highest monthly volume for more than three years.
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 prices lifted back above 200 eurocents a kg mark in September to average 204.19 eurocents a kg, up by 4.6% on the previous month but still 4.2% lower than 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 6.78m tonnes in 2023, which was 0.7% higher than in 2022.
The UK was the EU’s largest export destination during the first five months of 2024, with 58,800 tonnes of eggs being imported into the UK from the EU.
This accounted for more than a third of total EU egg exports and was an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period last year.
Ukraine was the largest exporter of eggs to the EU with volumes up by 37.7% for the year to date. More than 29,300 tonnes of eggs were imported by the EU from Ukraine, which accounted for more than 60% of total imports.
The UK was the second largest exporter to the EU with 6,500 tonnes being sent during the first five months of the year.
This was a 43% increase on the same period last year but still considerably lower than the volume of eggs imported from the EU by the UK.