Poultry markets face pressure from imports and disease

The poultry market in the Benelux region is facing significant pressure due to a surge in cheap chicken imports from Poland and Brazil, coupled with declining demand. In the Netherlands, broiler prices have fallen for three consecutive weeks. In Belgium, the National Poultry Association (Landsbond Pluimvee) reports that local slaughterhouses are struggling to compete with the low prices of imported meat, leading to a supply that far exceeds demand.

Belgian producers are also grappling with rising production costs. Some farmers have already decided to suspend production cycles because current price levels are no longer sustainable. To stabilize the market, Belgian slaughterhouses are calling for a reduction in the number of chickens being raised.

Simultaneously, the global supply chain faces risks from an outbreak of avian influenza in Brazil, the world’s largest chicken meat exporter. This outbreak threatens international exports and highlights the vulnerabilities of relying on single major suppliers. Meat processors face potential production halts, increased port inspections, and logistical delays, which could exacerbate existing supply tensions.