EU chicken meat production is expected to increase by 2.7% in 2024. This increase is driven by sustained domestic and export demand, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report.

While economic conditions throughout Europe have improved since the COVID-19 crisis, market conditions continue to favour less expensive animal protein. This is expected to continue in 2024 and 2025.

Like beef and pork production, chicken meat production in Germany is expected to grow only marginally in 2024 and 2025. Stricter regulations on animal husbandry under the Animal Welfare Initiative are lowering population densities on German farms.

Today, it is almost impossible to obtain permits for new sheds, and this is a significant factor limiting growth in production.