Production is expected to remain stable in Germany, mainly because of stricter welfare rules, and to decline slightly in Spain, due to excessive pressure on producer margins.

The local outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) in several EU-28 member States, notably France and Germany, are not expected to have any significant impact on the production levels.

The EU-28 domestic consumption of broiler meat is still expected to increase slightly more than total population growth in 2016, indicating a small increase in per-capita consumption.

This is due to the switch from other meats to broiler meat, which is cheaper and more convenient, mainly because of the difficult economic situation in the EU-28 region.

Broiler meat imports are expected to remain flat in 2016, due to the economic situation in the EU-28 region and the competitiveness of domestically produced broiler meat.

Ukraine is becoming an important supplier of broiler meat to the EU-28, displacing imports from Brazil.

After a disappointing year in 2015 which led to very slow growth, mainly due to the South African antidumping tariff on broiler meat from several EU countries and lower exports to Benin and Hong Kong, EU-28 broiler meat exports in 2016 are expected to resume growth.

This is because of a resumption of exports of whole broilers (mostly from France) to Saudi Arabia and parts to new markets, such as the Philippines, Ghana and Ukraine.