According to the USDA's International Egg and Poultry review, in the past five years, global poultry exports have expanded by over 25 per cent. Over 80 per cent of the growth is attributed to demand from the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Poultry production in the US is forecast to increase three per cent to a record 17.5 million metric tons (MMT) as a result of lower input costs and high domestic demand.

Production in Brazil is also forecast to rise slightly to a record 13 MMT owing to sufficient feed supplies. However, domestic consumption is down due to consumer debt and competition from the pork and beef sectors. Demand from the Middle East is rising because Brazil's exporters can supply Halal-certified poultry and products.

Meanwhile, India's poultry production is forecast to rise six per cent as a result of heightened demand for animal protein and a growing predilection for processed poultry products.

Russia's poultry production has been growing at a rapid rate to a record 3.3 MMT. This growth has been fueled by government support to improve genetics, construction of new establishments and modernisation of existing plants.

Poultry production in China is forecast to rise slightly to a record 13.7 MMT owing to new government subsidies for breeding stock purchases. The country continues to seek eligibility to export processed poultry products to the United States.

Production in the European Union is also forecast to rise to a record 9.9 MMT due to greater domestic demand for lower cost supplies of animal products and reduced feed costs.

Poultry production in Thailand and Turkey are forecast to expand by 8 per cent to a record 1.6 MMT and three per cent to a record 1.8 MMT respectively. While the growth in Thailand is a result of greater demand and lower feed costs, Turkey's rise in production is a result of growing demand from Iraq and other Middle Eastern markets.