Canadian Weekly Market Commentary - CANADA - Market comments on the Egg and Poultry Industry in Canada w/e August the 21st and 23rd.

Poultry - Market Comments For Week Ending August 23rd

Paying prices to chicken and turkey producers, as established by the Provincial Marketing Boards, held steady across Canada.

In British Columbia, frozen broiler chicken, frozen roaster chicken and chicken leg quarters with back attached and chicken legs were reported as low as 318, 285 and 216 cents per kilo, respectively. Fresh turkeys, frozen turkeys, and turkey drumsticks and wings were selling at prices as low as 218, 328 and 218 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Alberta, fresh broiler chicken, frozen broiler chicken and chicken leg quarters were reported as low as 386, 221 and 218 cents per kilo, respectively. Fresh hen turkey, frozen tom turkey, turkey drumsticks and turkey wings were selling as low as 328, 319, 299 and 328 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Saskatchewan, wholesalers continued to report steady sales with adequate supplies. Frozen broiler chicken and skinless/boneless without fillets were sell ing as low 328 and 855 cents per kilo, respectively. Turkey drumstick and turkey wings were selling at prices as low as 417 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Manitoba, the demand for chicken continued with adequate supplies and steady prices. The demand for turkey was light with adequate supplies and steady prices. Bone-in chicken breast with back attached and chicken leg quarters with back attached and turkey drumsticks were selling at prices as low as 709, 268 and 528 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Ontario, the chicken and turkey markets commentaries were not available for this week. There were no comments for imports of live mature chicken. The recent blackout throughout Ontario was an unprecedented challenge for the chicken industry. Report of losses resulting from the power outage indicate that chicken farmers did an excellent job of coping with the situation, as did Ontario's processors.

One of the challenges in Ontario was that retailers were unable to take delivery of chicken that was already processed and ready to be moved. In some instances this resulted in a backlog of product and, therefore, full coolers at some processing plants. These processors, in turn, were unable to pick up live birds because their storage facilities were already full. As a result, some farmers were unable to ship their birds as planned.

Report of flock losses totalled roughly 50,000 chickens from a small number of producers. Frozen broiler chicken, fresh broiler chicken, bone-in chicken breast with back attached, chicken leg quarters, chicken thighs, chicken thighs with back attached, chicken drumsticks, frozen broiler and hen turkeys, frozen tom turkey, turkey thighs, and turkey wings were selling at prices as low as 262, 324, 328, 214, 174, 228,328, 218, 328, 328 and 284 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Quebec, the demand for whole and cut-up chicken was weak and surpluses have been sent to cold storage and to further processing. Whole chicken and wings processor prices were stable, but breasts and legs prices were lower. Large chains offered fresh broiler chicken, chicken breasts with back attached and chicken legs with back attached at 220, 637 et 128-218 cents per kilo, respectively. The fresh turkey market remained quiet. There were a few minor transactions on frozen turkey. Retailers featured frozen A turkey at 328 cents per kilo. Buyers started to show some interest in prices and availabilities of frozen turkey for the festive season of December and January.

In New Brunswick, the demand for chicken remained good with adequate supplies. The turkey market was unchanged with a light supply to meet a fair demand. Skinless/boneless chicken breast, bone-in chicken breast, chicken wings, turkey drumsticks and turkey wings were selling at prices as low as 1599, 813, 549, 439 and 399 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Nova Scotia, bone-in breast without back and chicken leg with skin/without back and bone-in turkey breast were selling as low as 699 and 505 cents per kilo, respectively. Chicken legs and frozen broiler turkey were featured as low as 300 and 395 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Prince Edward Island, the poultry market remained steady with continued adequate supplies. Skinless/boneless chicken breast, chicken wings and bone-in turkey breasts were selling as low as 1321, 505-549 and 769 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Newfoundland, continued with a moderate chicken market and an ample supply. The turkey market was reported as slow with low supplies of most cuts at the retail level. Fresh broiler chicken and frozen broiler turkey were selling at prices as low as 324 and 437 cents per kilo, respectively. Chicken wings were featured at 505 cents per kilo.

Egg - Market Comments For Week Ending August 21

Paying prices to egg producers for all "A" grades, for week ending August 21, 2003, as reported by the Provincial Marketing Boards, held firm across Canada. The weighted average wholesale price was 167.5 at Toronto and remained the same in Montreal at 194.1 cents per dozen, respectively.

In British Columbia, the weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs decreased to 251.0 cents per dozen. The industrial surplus supplies has increased for a second consecutive week to a total of 17,139 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 1.0 percent "A" Extra Large, 13.3 percent "A" Large, 16.4 percent "A" Medium, 1.6 percent "A" Small and 67.7 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Alberta, the weighted average retail prices for "A" Large eggs increased fractionally to 195.4 cents per dozen in Calgary and increased by 5.6 cents to 201.1 cents per dozen at Edmonton. Industrial surplus supplies increased this week to a total of 12,320 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 2.0 percent "A" Extra Large, 10.4 percent "A" Large, 55.2 percent "A" Medium, 28.5 "A" Small and 3.9 percent Nest-run eggs.

Wholesalers in Saskatchewan reported fully steady sales with adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained the same at Regina and decreased at Saskatoon to 176.3 and 180.8 cents per dozen, respectively. Industrial surplus supplies increased this week to a total of 3,520 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 100.0 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Manitoba, egg sales continued to be firm with ample supplies to meet a heavy demand The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained the same at 180.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased this week to a total of 29,406 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 1.2 percent "A" Extra Large, 15.0 percent "A" Large, 40.7 percent "A" Medium, 7.3 percent "A" Small and 35.8 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Ontario, the weighted average retail price for A" Large eggs remained at 203.1 cents per dozen. Industrial product declaration has increased this week to a total of 28 694 boxes of 15 dozen and consisted of 7.8 percent "A" Extra Large, 17.7 percent "A" Large, 67.4 percent "A" Medium, 3.2 percent "A" Small and 3.9 percent Nest-run eggs.

The egg market in Quebec for this week was fair to good depending on the region. The demand remained slower with good supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs increased to 227.3 cents per dozen. Two import shipments of table eggs were reported. Industrial surplus supplies decreased this week to a total of 21,805 boxes of 15 dozen and consisted of 15.5 percent "A" Extra Large, 24.4 percent "A" Large, 21.6 percent "A Medium, 1.8 percent "A" Small and 36.7 percent Nest-run eggs.

In New Brunswick, the egg market remained unchanged with a good demand and adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large white eggs decreased significantly 194.0 cents per dozen. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large brown eggs remained at 213.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 2,051 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 14.6 percent "A" Large, 12.3 percent "A" Medium and 73.1 percent Nest-run eggs.

The average retail price for "A" Large eggs in Nova Scotia ranged from 209.0 to 239.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 4,680 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 22.8 percent "A" Medium, 4.1 percent "A" Small and 73.1 percent Nest-run eggs.

On Prince Edward Island, the market remained steady with an adequate supply. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained at 209.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies have decreased for a third consecutive week to a total of 1,320 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 100.0 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Newfoundland, an active egg market with an ample supply continued to be reported. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs increased to 216.2 cents per dozen. The Newfoundland Egg Marketing Board reported four regular loads of eggs shipped out of the province. Industrial surplus supplies increased for a second consecutive to a total of 8,400 boxes of 15 dozen eggs consisting of 0.3 per "A" Extra Large, 0.4 percent "A" Medium and 99.3 percent Nest-run eggs.

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - 29th August 2003