Czech Republic Poultry Industry Growth Limited by Polish Competition

CZECH REPUBLIC - According to a recent report from the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA's FAS) poultry consumption and production in the Czech Republic has been stagnating, being limited by significant imports from larger producers, mainly from neighbouring Poland.
calendar icon 21 December 2015
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Poultry meat production in 2014, as reported by the Czech Statistical Office, increased only very slightly, by 0.8 per cent, to 149,410 MT of carcass weight.

In the third quarter of 2015 poultry production increased by 0.6 per cent year-on-year.

This rather stagnating trend goes hand in hand with stagnating consumption. Chicken meat production, as reported by Eurostat, reached 143,870 MT in 2014, while turkey meat production is reported only at 1,010 MT.

Total meat consumption in the Czech Republic has been gradually declining or stagnating. Increasing prices of meat and the steady shift to the healthier lifestyle are the main factors driving the overall decline in meat consumption.

Poultry consumption peaked in 2005, when it doubled compared to 1995. Since 2005 the per capita poultry consumption levelled off, fluctuating around 25 kg per capita, reaching 24.3 kg per capita in 2013, as published by the Czech Statistical Office.

Broiler meat gained its increased popularity among consumers because of its relatively favourable price, when compared to other meats, healthier profile, and its easy and fast preparation.

Imports and exports

Imports of broiler meat originated mainly from Poland, Brazil and Germany and reached 87,553 MT in 2014.

Exports in the same year were 35,520 MT and went mainly to Slovakia and The Netherlands.

In 2015, January to September, broiler meat imports reached 73,294 MT and exports 24,842 MT, destinations remain unchanged.

Turkey meat imports originate from the same suppliers as broiler meat. In 2014 they reached 14,330 MT, and in the first three quarters of 2015 they amounted to10,697 MT.

Turkey meat exports went mainly to Austria and were 1,992 MT in the first three quarters of 2015.

In 2014 turkey meat exports reached 2,916 MT with Austria being a main destination.

Salmonella programme gets results

In 2003 the EU set up an extended control programme for zoonosis, considering Salmonella as a priority. Enhanced Salmonella control programmes in poultry were implemented in all EU Member States.

Targets were set for the reduction of Salmonella in poultry flocks (e.g. laying hens, broilers, turkeys).

The Czech Republic implemented the programme in 2007. Since 2007 the percentage of inflicted flocks decreased more than ten times to the current 1.4 per cent.

Subsidies paid within this programme reached 186.7 million CZK in 2013 (approximately U.S. $7.333 million), according to the Poultry Situation and Outlook Report published by the Ministry of Agriculture.

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