Bulgarian poultry meat production rises in 2024 - GAIN
Consumer demand remained elevated
12 July 2024
2 minute read
By: Although 2024 started with lower broiler numbers, declining feed grain and energy prices, along with expanding domestic consumption, are supporting more growth for the industry, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report. Consumer demand has stayed elevated with expectations for a full recovery of tourism and food service outlets.
Chicken meat
Slaughter data for the first four months of the year shows 9.2% higher broiler slaughter. However, due to lower average carcass weight, it resulted in 2.3% increase in broiler meat output. The latest price data as of mid-June indicates that broiler prices have decreased by 1.1% compared to a year ago (€213.71/100 kg) and compared to the EU decline of 2% ((€271.25/100 kg).
Domestic prices have been more stable and the gap between local and EU prices has shrunk. As of mid-June, the domestic broiler price was at 79% of the EU average compared to 77% in the last year. Overall, broiler prices at slaughterhouses remain at least 20 percent below the average EU prices. Bulgaria has the second lowest broiler prices in the EU, after Poland.
Duck meat
The duck meat industry faces more challenges this year due to HPAI outbreaks and inventory losses, as well as due to lower duck meat prices compared to 2023. In the first four months of 2024, the growth in the number of ducks slaughtered was at 6.8%, however, it translated to only a 1.5% increase in duck meat output due to a decline in the average carcass weight.
Poultry meat
As a result of these developments, total poultry meat production for the first four months of 2024 was 2.4% more than a year ago. It is forecasted that this growth has the potential to accelerate to above 3% for the year, and in the case of broiler meat, the output may increase to 92-93,000 MT. The expectations for the duck meat production are for stagnation or a small decline to 24,000 MT, while total poultry meat is estimated at about 123,000 MT.
