The global poultry market is well positioned to gradually improve in the last quarter of 2023 and early 2024, following several months of slow growth, according to a new report by Rabobank.
Lower feed costs are expected to support market growth, making poultry more affordable and helping industry growth to recover. The main challenges for 2023/24 include slow global economic growth, further declines in feed prices, and rising volatility risks due to avian influenza.
“After a period of slow poultry consumption growth due to a weak global economy and rising prices resulting from cost increases, global demand has room for some recovery. This is driven mainly by lower feed costs and, therefore, lower chicken prices,” said Nan-Dirk Mulder, senior analyst, animal protein at Rabobank. “Poultry should be able to benefit from its relatively competitive pricing in many markets compared to other proteins like beef, pork, and alternative proteins.”
Global trade volumes peaked in the first half of 2023, reaching a record-high 7.2 million metric tons, driven entirely by increased trade of raw poultry meat. Meanwhile, trade in processed poultry meat dropped sharply. Amid more price-driven markets, consumers’ product preferences are changing, and this trend is expected to continue in the second half of this year and into 2024.
“Brazil – as a cost-price leader in raw chicken meat – benefited most from these bullish market conditions, expanding its exports by 16% in the first half of 2023 compared to last year,” said Mulder.
Government interventions driven by food security, geopolitics, and sustainability will continue to impact markets and create volatility in global trade.
According to Mulder, producers should maintain focus on the operational side. “Although we believe feed prices will drop slightly, operational costs are still at historic highs, and risks of further volatility exist in grain prices, due to El Niño, and in energy prices and availability. Ongoing leadership in terms of costs and procurement will remain key.”
