Poultry meat market is very tight, but will it stay that way?

The European poultry meat market is still quite tight, keeping prices stable. In Northern Europe, the price of broilers is particularly high. Relief may come in the short term, as Brazil is allowed to export to the European market again. The poultry meat market is reportedly doing quite well. Meanwhile, prices remain rather stable, according to data from Eurostat. Since week 32, the price of poultry meat has been above €300 per 100 kg, and it has remained around that level since. In Northern Europe, prices have risen slightly in recent weeks. In Belgium, prices increased by just over €5 between week 34 and week 37 to €263.94. In Poland, where most of the sales in Northern Europe take place, prices have meanwhile fallen by over €6. Although there is clearly export pressure, exports are still not sufficient to push prices down in the region. The situation in the poultry meat market remains quite constant. Demand for poultry meat remains strong, while supply has been fairly stable in recent weeks. The result is a market that is not moving too strongly. The resumption of exports from Ukraine in October has had only a limited impact on the market. The declines around that period have been more than compensated for. Due to the ongoing tightness in the market, the price on the free market in the Netherlands is again at a peak level. The price matches this year's record of €1.30 per kg. This is considerably above the average slaughter price of broilers in the Netherlands. According to the VNC listing, this price is at €1.205 per kg. This difference indicates two things. Firstly, a tight market, and secondly, a higher price level in Belgium where significant exports occur. This is due to a record price in the country of as much as €1.40 per kg, according to the Belgian Deinze listing. This puts the price at the highest level ever, and also 7.8% above the level from a year ago. Brazilian market available again However, there is a development that may provide some relief. On Monday, September 22, the European Union announced that poultry meat from Brazil is allowed back on the European market. The European Commission has permitted the import of Brazilian poultry meat again, after the Brazilian authorities provided sufficient evidence that the country is free from avian influenza. The export was halted in May after an outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, but since no new cases have been recorded, nearly all regions have been allowed to export to the EU again since September 18. Rio Grande do Sul will have a later reopening: October 2, and for the infected area within a 10 km radius of the facility where the outbreak occurred, not until October 16, 2025.