EU poultry sector accelerates with rising production and trade in 2026

The European Union’s poultry industry shows signs of robust growth with increased output and trade activity, despite softer broiler prices, driven by fewer avian influenza cases and declining feed costs.

The European Union’s poultry sector started 2026 with firmer output, stronger trade and softer broiler prices, according to the European Commission’s latest poultry meat dashboard.

Eurostat data cited by the Commission show production rose 5.1% in January-April compared with the same period a year earlier. Hungary recorded the sharpest rise among major member states, while Poland and Romania also posted double-digit gains. By contrast, output fell in France, Italy, Germany and Sweden.

The broader backdrop remains one of structural expansion. The Poultry Site reported earlier this year that EU chicken meat production was expected to rise again in 2026 after growth in 2025, helped by fewer avian influenza outbreaks, lower feed and energy costs, and resilient domestic demand. Eurostat has also noted that poultry continues to outpace red meat in the bloc’s livestock mix.

Trade was also buoyant. Exports climbed 2.1% to 695,407 tonnes, but imports rose faster, up 7% to 362,326 tonnes. Brazil remained the dominant supplier, while the UK stayed the largest export destination for EU product.

The average broiler price in week 32 was €281.67 per 100 kg, down 6.7% year on year. The Commission cautioned that its price series is not a full measure of farm costs or profitability.

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