EU chicken meat imports increased by 2% in 2023 and are expected to further increase by 3.5% in 2024, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report. The European hotel, restaurant and institution sector accounts for the largest share of imported chicken.

Imports from Brazil stagnated in 2023, while imports from United Kingdom fell by 20% as the EU imposed strict sanitary controls following Brexit. Imports from Thailand also faced increased competition from Ukraine.

EU imports of Ukrainian chicken meat grew by more than 50% in 2023. Clearly, this trade continues to benefit from EU regulation 2023/1077 which renewed temporary trade concessions under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCTA) of 2011. Under this EU Regulation, Ukrainian chicken meat is eligible to enter the European market without tariffs or quotas. This measure is temporary and, unless it is extended, it will expire on June 5, 2024. Some EU countries such as Poland have already asked the EU to impose limits chicken meat imports from Ukraine.