Weekly Canadian Egg and Poultry Market Review - CANADA - Our regular weekly review from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada of the Egg and Poultry markets in Canada. Report for week ending August 28th and 30th respectively.

Poultry - Market Comments For Week Ending August 30th

Paying prices to chicken and turkey producers, as established by the Provincial Marketing Boards, have fallen by 0.4 cents per kilogram for chicken in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Chicken prices have decreased by 0.1 cent per kilogram in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Chicken prices in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland were unchanged. Turkey producer prices continued as very steady across Canada.

Frozen broiler chicken, frozen roaster chicken, chicken leg quarters and legs, fresh broiler and hen turkeys, frozen turkeys, turkey drumsticks and wings, and ducks were selling at prices as low as 298, 285, 216, 218, 328, 218 and 418 cents per kilo, respectively, on the west coast.

In Alberta, frozen broiler chicken and ducks were sold at prices as low as 218 and 326 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Saskatchewan wholesalers continued to report steady sales with adequate supplies. Frozen broiler chicken, chicken drums and ducks were selling as low as 262, 282 and 418 cents per kilo, respectively.

The chicken market in Manitoba remained the same with a good demand, an adequate supply and steady prices. A light demand, adequate supplies and steady prices continued to be reported for the turkey market. Bone-in chicken breast with back attached and grade "A" frozen geese were selling at prices as low as 709 and 869 cents per kilo, respectively.

In Ontario, there were no commentaries available for the chicken and turkey markets. Imports of live mature chicken totalled 214,208 heads for August 17 to 23, 2003. Skinless/boneless chicken breasts, chicken leg quarters, chicken thighs, frozen broiler and hen turkeys, and ducks were selling at prices as low as 880, 214, 174, 218 and 439 cents per kilogram, respectively.

In Quebec, the demand for whole and cut-up chicken was reported as calm at the beginning of the week, then became very active by week's end. The demand was equally balanced with the availability of supplies. Processor prices were stable with some slight increases shown. Large chains advertised chicken specials on fresh broilers, and leg quarters and thighs with back attached at 328 and 218 cents per kilo, respectively. The demand for fresh turkey was indicated as regular. market remained quiet. There were some transactions on frozen turkeys.

The New Brunswick chicken market indicated no change with a good demand and an adequate supply. The turkey market continued with a light supply to meet a fair demand. Skinless/boneless chicken breasts, bone-in chicken breast and bone-in turkey breasts were available at prices as low as 1334, 813 and 880 cents per kilogram, respectively.

At the consumer level in Nova Scotia, fresh broiler chicken was offered at 505 cents per kilo.

An unchanged market was reported from Prince Edward Island with adequate supplies available for a steady market. Chicken features included skinless/boneless breasts, thighs and drums, and wings at 1321, 439 and 725 cents per kilo, respectively. Fresh hen turkeys were advertised at 373 cents per kilo.

Newfoundland's chicken market continued as moderate with an ample supply of most cuts. The turkey market was unchanged with slow activity and low supplies of most cuts at the retail level. Chicken on special included broilers, skinless/boneless breasts, wings, drums and thighs at 324, 1431, 549, 483 and 439 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Egg - Market Comments For Week Ending August 28th

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 167.7 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 increased to 253.0 cents per dozen. The industrial surplus supplies decreased this week to a total of 15,968 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 0.3 percent "A" Extra Large, 8.0 percent "A" Large, 17.5 percent "A" Medium, 2.9 percent "A" Small and 71.3 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Alberta, the weighted average retail prices for "A" Large eggs decreased to 192.8 cents per dozen in Calgary and decreased to 199.2 cents per dozen at Edmonton. Industrial surplus supplies decreased this week to a total of 10,560 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 6.8 percent "A" Extra Large, 8.4 percent "A" Large, 56.8 percent "A" Medium and 28.0 "A" Small.

Wholesalers in Saskatchewan reported strong sales with adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained the same at Regina and increased at Saskatoon to 176.3 and 180.9 cents per dozen, respectively. Industrial surplus supplies decreased this week to a total of 1,600 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 65.0 percent "A" Medium and 35.0 percent "A" Small.

In Manitoba, egg sales continued to be firm with adequate supplies to meet a heavy demand. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs decreased to 175.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased for a second week to a total of 28,000 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 1.3 percent "A" Extra Large, 6.7 percent "A" Large, 27.7 percent "A" Medium, 4.9 percent "A" Small and 59.4 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Ontario, the weighted average retail price for A" Large eggs decreased to 202.7 cents per dozen. Industrial product declaration has increased for a second week to a total of 46 501 boxes of 15 dozen, and consisted of 5.0 percent "A" Extra Large, 22.7 percent "A" Large, 62.0 percent "A" Medium, 3.0 percent "A" Small and 7.3 percent Nest-run eggs.

The egg market in Quebec for this week was rather slow depending on the region. The demand remained stable with good supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained the same to 227.3 cents per dozen. Two import shipments for table eggs and two import shipments for breaking purposes were reported. Industrial surplus supplies increased this week to a total of 24,836 boxes of 15 dozen and consisted of 22.4 percent "A" Extra Large, 42.7 percent "A" Large, 14.2 percent "A Medium, 0.2 percent "A" Small and 20.5 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 increased significantly to 206.0 cents per dozen. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large brown eggs remained at 213.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies increased to a total of 3,716 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 14.5 percent "A" Large, 20.1 percent "A" Medium, 1.1 percent "A" Small and 64.3 percent Nest-run eggs.

The average retail price for "A" Large eggs in Nova Scotia is 209.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies increased to a total of 6,720 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 3.6 percent "A" Large, 18.0 percent "A" Medium, 4.3 percent "A" Small and 74.1 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 increased to a total of 1,920 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 3.1 percent of "A" Medium and 96.9 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 decreased to 214.9 cents per dozen. The Newfoundland Egg Marketing Board reported three regular loads of eggs shipped out of the province. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 5,040 boxes of 15 dozen eggs consisting of 100 percent Nest-run eggs.

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - 8th September 2003