French poultry meat production rises sharply

Recent data from Agreste, the French agricultural statistics office, reveals a notable shift in the country's agricultural sector, with a focus on poultry and egg production. The report highlights an uptick in the slaughter of broiler chickens, ducks, and turkeys, though numbers remain below average for some categories. Despite this, the poultry meat consumption has seen a significant increase, with the French consuming 6% more in August compared to the previous year. The average prices for poultry meat and feed have also fluctuated, with the industry still recovering from bird flu outbreaks, leading to a decrease in the number of animals. Additionally, egg production has seen a slight increase, but overall production remains below the previous year. France has also experienced a surge in poultry meat exports and imports, reflecting the growing demand for poultry products both domestically and internationally.

This is evident from the latest figures from the French agricultural statistics office Agreste. On average, the number of slaughters of broiler meat increased by 7 percent in September compared to September 2023. The slaughter of broiler chickens increased by 5 percent compared to the period 2019-2023. The slaughter of ducks increased by 8 percent compared to this period. The slaughter of turkeys and guinea fowl remains below the average for the years 2019-2023. Agreste also publishes figures on prices and consumption. The average prices for poultry meat in September were 1.1 percent higher than the average for the period 2019-2023, but lower than last September (-6.8 percent). The feed was 2.9 percent more expensive than in the period 2019-2023, but 5.7 percent cheaper than in September 2023. Fewer animals The number of animals in the French poultry industry is still lower than in the years before the bird flu outbreaks. For example, 16 percent fewer turkeys were kept in ...