Poultry markets perform well in 2025 despite mixed outlook

Broiler prices in the EU have surpassed €3/kg (£2.58) to a new record high, having been on an upwards trajectory since the start of the year.

The EU broiler price averaged 306 euro cents a kg (£2.64) in early July, which is 11.5% higher than the same week last year.

Steady feed costs and strong broiler values have led to decent returns for many poultry producers.

See also: Concern as two separate bird flu outbreaks reported in Wales

The price gap between the EU and the US has widened in recent months, with the US price falling to a 15% discount at present, despite trading at a premium earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, prices in Brazil remain at a significant discount to the wider global market, partially due to bird flu limiting exports.

EU poultry production has been marginally back on the year, with volumes in May reaching roughly 830,000t, according to the latest figures from the EU Commission.

However, looking ahead EU poultry production is on track to exceed 14m tonnes in 2025 for the first time.

Consumption in the EU is also expected to grow, approaching 13m tonnes this year.

UK production

Poultrymeat production in the UK has continued to rebound, lifting to 163,900t in May 2025, a 2% increase compared with the same month last year.

The number of broiler birds slaughtered actually dropped back in May, both on the year and the previous month, however, this was offset by heavier average liveweights.

Broiler meat production totalled 157,000t, up by 2.1% year-on-year.

Farmgate egg prices in the UK averaged 148p/dozen during the first quarter of 2025, representing a 1% increase on the previous quarter and 3.5% higher than the same period last year.

Egg production reached 17,000t in the first quarter of 2025, up 19% from the previous quarter, but a 7.9% decline compared with the same period in 2024.

Global markets

Global poultry markets have experienced a relatively bullish first half of 2025, according to analysts at Rabobank.

However, they have warned that bird flu and geopolitics could influence global trade and impact markets.

Analysts said: “Global poultry trade in 2025 has been strong so far, reaching historic highs.

“However, the wave of bird flu outbreaks, plus the potential impact of tariffs and other geopolitical developments, including the impact of the Israel-Iran war, will likely shake up trade dynamics.”

Rabobank has forecast global poultry production to grow by between 2% and 2.5% during 2025.