EU: Fresh Whole Chicken Market 2025

Fresh Whole Chicken Market Size in the EU

The EU fresh whole chicken market declined to $X in 2021, waning by -1.9% against the previous year. In general, consumption recorded a mild shrinkage. Over the period under review, the market attained the peak level at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Fresh Whole Chicken Production in the EU

In value terms, fresh whole chicken production contracted to $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed a pronounced slump. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2013 with an increase of 8.5% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the peak level at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2021 were Spain (X tons), Poland (X tons) and Italy (X tons), together accounting for 54% of total production. These countries were followed by France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Romania, Greece, Belgium and Ireland, which together accounted for a further 38%.

From 2012 to 2021, the biggest increases were recorded for Greece (with a CAGR of +7.1%), while production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Fresh Whole Chicken Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2021, shipments abroad of fresh or chilled whole chickens increased by 2.7% to X tons for the first time since 2017, thus ending a three-year declining trend. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 with an increase of 10%. Over the period under review, the exports attained the peak figure at X tons in 2017; however, from 2018 to 2021, the exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, fresh whole chicken exports soared to $X in 2021. The total export value increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% from 2012 to 2021; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations throughout the analyzed period. As a result, the exports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Poland (X tons), the Netherlands (X tons), Belgium (X tons), Italy (X tons), Spain (X tons), France (X tons) and Austria (X tons) represented the major exporter of fresh or chilled whole chickens in the European Union, committing 79% of total export. The following exporters - Portugal (X tons), Bulgaria (X tons), Greece (X tons) and Ireland (X tons) - together made up 14% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Greece (with a CAGR of +22.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest fresh whole chicken supplying countries in the European Union were Poland ($X), the Netherlands ($X) and France ($X), with a combined 41% share of total exports. Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Greece and Ireland lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 53%.

In terms of the main exporting countries, Greece, with a CAGR of +21.3%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2021, the export price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 13% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of export peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, the country with the highest price was France ($X per ton), while Ireland ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Austria (+6.8%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Fresh Whole Chicken Imports

Imports in the EU

In 2021, after three years of decline, there was growth in supplies from abroad of fresh or chilled whole chickens, when their volume increased by 2.1% to X tons. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.5% over the period from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 when imports increased by 14%. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2018 to 2021, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, fresh whole chicken imports rose rapidly to $X in 2021. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +3.0% from 2012 to 2021; however, the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when imports increased by 16% against the previous year. The level of import peaked at $X in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Germany represented the main importer of fresh or chilled whole chickens in the European Union, with the volume of imports recording X tons, which was near 33% of total imports in 2021. It was distantly followed by Belgium (X tons), France (X tons), the Czech Republic (X tons), Greece (X tons), Spain (X tons) and Bulgaria (X tons), together constituting a 41% share of total imports. The Netherlands (X tons), Italy (X tons), Latvia (X tons), Lithuania (X tons), Romania (X tons) and Austria (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into Germany increased at an average annual rate of +10.0% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, Belgium (+10.7%), Spain (+4.4%) and Latvia (+2.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Belgium emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +10.7% from 2012-2021. Austria, Greece, France, Italy and Romania experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, the Netherlands (-1.5%), the Czech Republic (-4.0%), Lithuania (-4.1%) and Bulgaria (-5.0%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Germany (+16 p.p.) and Belgium (+5.1 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2021, the share of Lithuania (-1.8 p.p.), the Netherlands (-1.8 p.p.), France (-1.8 p.p.), Bulgaria (-4.6 p.p.) and the Czech Republic (-4.9 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Germany ($X) constitutes the largest market for imported fresh or chilled whole chickens in the European Union, comprising 39% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Belgium ($X), with a 9.2% share of total imports. It was followed by France, with a 7.9% share.

In Germany, fresh whole chicken imports expanded at an average annual rate of +11.8% over the period from 2012-2021. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Belgium (+4.0% per year) and France (+0.3% per year).

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in the European Union amounted to $X per ton, growing by 9.3% against the previous year. In general, the import price saw a relatively flat trend pattern. Over the period under review, import prices attained the peak figure at $X per ton in 2013; afterwards, it flattened through to 2021.

Prices varied noticeably country of destination: the country with the highest price was Germany ($X per ton), while Bulgaria ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+2.5%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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