European Union: Poultry and Products Semi-annual
Link to report:
Most governments in Europe intermittently closed restaurants, businesses and implemented lock-downs since late February 2020 because of the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic. Cross border trade slowed and demand for imported products slumped. Those disruptions led to an overall 1.5 percent decline in EU27+UK chicken meat production. Imports fell more significantly as a large share of imported chicken meat is sold to the HRI sector. Exports shrank by 4.6 percent as many importing countries also banned EU chicken due to Avian Influenza outbreaks. Consumption declined by two percent, as the increase in retail chicken meat sales did not compensate for losses in the HRI sector. EU-27+UK chicken meat production, imports and consumption in CY 2021 are forecast to increase from 2020 with COVID-19 vaccination programs underway in 2021 and a likely return to open restaurants by summer or fall. However, EU-27+UK chicken meat exports will continue to be restricted by AI-related bans.
