Netherlands: Less poultry exported

imports increased

In 2003, the drop in production in the poultry sector due to the plague had, as was to be expected, a strong impact on foreign trade in the Netherlands. From January to September last year, poultry meat exports fell by 15,2 percent to around 484.600 tons; it was mainly chickens / hens. At the same time, imports of poultry meat rose by 31 percent to around 192.100 tons.

Given the increased imports, Dutch suppliers were largely able to meet their delivery commitments, particularly within the EU. It was only in the chicken sector that exports to Germany did not quite match the previous year's volume; Deliveries to the local market in the first nine months of 2003, at 137.230 tons, were two percent below the previous year's volume. In the EU as a whole, the Dutch sold almost 353.200 tonnes of chicken meat, a good ten percent more than before.

However, these figures also reflect the supply pressure caused by the slump in exports to third countries. Overall, exports of chicken and chicken meat to third countries halved to just over 94.000 tons. The import bans imposed administratively after the outbreak of avian influenza largely brought exports to Eastern Europe to a standstill. Significantly less sales were also made in Asia, while deliveries were expanded to some African countries.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]