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 September 18th and 20th respectively.

Poultry - Market Comments For Week Ending September 20th

Paying prices to chicken and turkey producers, as established by the Provincial Marketing Boards, held somewhat steady, except for a three cent per kilogram increase on turkeys in Manitoba for all weight ranges and in Alberta for Broilers and Hens.

In British Columbia, fresh broiler chicken, chicken leg quarters, and fresh broiler turkeys and turkey drumsticks were selling as low as 259, 216 and 218 cents per kilogram, respectively.

In Alberta, frozen broiler chicken, chicken leg quarters and ducks were available at prices as low as 216, 218 and 326 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Saskatchewan wholesalers continued to report steady sales with adequate supplies. Frozen broiler chickens, chicken leg quarters, and frozen broiler and hen turkeys were selling as low as 262, 289 and 318 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Effective August 10, 2003, the live paying price to Manitoba turkey producers had increased by three cents per kilogram. The demand for chicken was good with continued adequate supplies and steady prices. The demand for turkey was reported as only fair with continued adequate supplies and steady prices. Frozen Hen turkeys were sold at prices as low as 284 cents per kilo.

Imports of Ontario live mature chicken totalled 133,374 heads for the period of September 7 to 13, 2003. Fresh roaster chicken, chicken leg quarters, chicken drumsticks, and frozen broiler and hen turkeys were selling at prices as low as 218, 174, 311 and 218 cents per kilogram, respectively.

In Quebec, the market for whole chicken and cut-up chicken remained active. The demand continued very good with slightly insufficient supplies of certain products. Chicken processor prices continued to strengthen. Large chains offered chicken specials on broilers, legs and thighs with back attached, and skinless/boneless breasts at 196, 218 and 813 cents per kilogram, respectively. The demand for fresh turkey is becoming more and more active with Thanksgiving fast approaching. There were several transactions reported for frozen turkeys. Fresh grade "A" turkey under 7 kg was featured at 395 cents per kilogram.

There were no changes to both chicken and turkey markets in New Brunswick with adequate supplies to meet a good demand. Frozen broiler chicken, fresh broiler turkey, bone-in turkey breasts and turkey drums were selling at prices as low as 324, 429, 880 and 275 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Bone-in chicken breasts and bone-in turkey breasts were selling at prices as low as 699 and 769 cents per kilo, respectively, in Nova Scotia. An unchanged market was reported from Prince Edward Island with adequate supplies available for a steady market. Chicken advertised were fresh broilers, thighs and drums at 505, 439 and 439 cents per kilogram, respectively.

In Newfoundland, an unchanged moderate chicken market with ample supplies of most cuts was shown. The turkey market remains slow with low supplies of most cuts at the retail level. Chicken specials included broilers, legs, legs 1 kg and up, breast halves, bonus pack of skinless/boneless breasts and bonus pack of wings at 373, 549, 395, 769, 1100 and 584 cents per kilogram, respectively. Features on turkey included thighs, breasts and drums at 589, 880 and 659 cents per kilogram, respectively.

Egg - Market Comments For Week Ending September 18th

Paying prices to egg producers for all "A" grades, for week ending September 18, 2003, as reported by the Provincial Marketing Boards, held steady across Canada. The weighted average wholesale price increased fractionally at Toronto and remained unchanged at Montreal to 167.89 and 194.1 cents per dozen, respectively.

In British Columbia, the weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs increased to 252.0 cents per dozen. The industrial surplus supplies increased to a total of 14,652 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 3.0 percent "A" Extra Large, 1.6 percent "A" Large, 21.0 percent "A" Medium, 1.5 percent "A" Small and 72.9 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Alberta, the weighted average retail prices for "A" Large eggs decreased at Calgary and increased at Edmonton to 193.2 and 199.0 cents per dozen, respectively. Industrial surplus supplies remained at the same level to a total of 14,080 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 1.1 percent "A" Extra Large, 8.0 percent "A" Large, 73.9 percent "A" Medium and 17.0 percent "A" Small eggs.

In Saskatchewan, egg sales remained fully steady with continued adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs decreased at both Regina and Saskatoon to 164.3 and 160.9 cents per dozen, respectively. Industrial surplus supplies increased to a total of 3,520 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 9.1 percent "A" Large, 27.3 percent "A" Medium, 11.3 percent "A" Small and 52.3 percent Nest-run eggs. Some retailers featured their "A" Large eggs as low as 129.0 cents per dozen on a limited buying basis.

In Manitoba, egg sales remained firm with a good demand and ample supplies available. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs decreased to 173.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies increased to a total of 27,344 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 1.1 percent "A" Extra Large, 21.8 percent "A" Large, 26.4 percent "A" Medium, 4.5 percent "A" Small and 46.2 percent Nest-run eggs.

In Ontario, the weighted average retail price for A" Large eggs increased fractionally to 204.31 cents per dozen. Industrial product declaration increased to a total of 42,076 boxes of 15 dozen, and consisted of 1.6 percent "A" Extra Large, 19.7 percent "A" Large, 70.9 percent "A" Medium, 3.8 percent "A" Small and 4.0 percent Nest-run eggs.

The Quebec egg market ranged from fair to good. The demand was generally good with continued regular supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained at 227.3 cents per dozen. Two import shipments for table eggs and one import shipment for breaking purposes were reported. Industrial surplus supplies decreased for a third consecutive week to a total of 5,780 boxes of 15 dozen and consisted of 24.2 percent "A" Extra Large, 27.0 percent "A" Large, 9.4 percent "A Medium, 8.3 percent "A" Small and 31.1 percent Nest-run eggs.

In New Brunswick, the egg market continued unchanged with a good demand and adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large white eggs remained at 206.0 cents per dozen. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large brown eggs continued at 215.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies increased for a second consecutive week to a total of 4,200 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 14.3 percent "A" Large, 8.2 percent "A" Medium, 8.9 percent "A" Small and 68.6 percent Nest-run eggs.

The average retail price for "A" Large eggs, in Nova Scotia, remained at 209.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 7,001 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 4.5 percent "A" Large, 14.5 percent "A" Medium, 3.0 percent "A" Small and 78.0 percent Nest-run eggs.

On Prince Edward Island, the egg market remained steady with continued adequate supplies. The weighted average retail price for "A" Large eggs remained at 209.0 cents per dozen. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 1,440 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 remained at 214.9 cents per dozen. The Newfoundland Egg Marketing Board reported two regular loads of Nest-run eggs shipped out of the province. Industrial surplus supplies decreased to a total of 3,360 boxes of 15 dozen eggs and consisted of 100.0 percent Nest-run eggs.

Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - 30th September 2003