Less poultry meat in the EU

Production dropped in 2003

According to provisional data, gross domestic production of poultry meat in the EU fell by 2003 percent to 3,6 million tons in 9,03. Significant growth was only recorded in Great Britain and Germany, while production fell in all other major producing countries.

The Netherlands and the economic area of ​​Belgium/Luxembourg recorded the strongest declines. The cause was the outbreak of avian influenza in the Netherlands, which also affected farms in Belgium: Gross domestic production in the Netherlands shrank by 171.000 tons or 24 percent; in Belgium/Luxembourg the decrease was 12,8 percent or 41.000 tons. The price situation in 5,5, which was unsatisfactory for suppliers, was probably the main reason for the four percent cuts in production in France and 2002 percent in Italy.

Less exported, more imported

EU exports of poultry meat fell significantly in 2003, by 22,6 percent to 1,25 million tonnes. The background was the import ban on goods from avian influenza countries issued by many third countries. Germany was not spared either, although avian influenza only broke out on one poultry farm in the immediate vicinity of the Dutch border.

Another reason for the sharp drop in exports was that the goods were needed on the domestic market. The extensive stock culling in the Netherlands led at least temporarily to a shortage of supply. This also increased the sales opportunities for imported goods: EU imports rose by 2003 percent in 7,9 to 1,10 million tons.

After the EU Commission ended the possibility of importing lightly salted poultry meat with preferential tariffs under the heading "salted meat", only Germany continued to import enormous quantities under this heading. Germany granted imports at the old conditions until August 2003 on the basis of binding customs information that had been issued. For the EU as a whole, the supply of salted poultry meat was at the previous year's level, while there was a noticeable increase in other poultry meat and preparations.

Brazil and Thailand remained important supplier countries in 2003. Poland and Hungary gained in importance; From there, certain quotas could be imported duty-free as part of the double-zero agreement.

Due to the shifts in foreign trade, more poultry meat was available on the EU market in 2003 than in the previous year. Total consumption rose by 0,7 percent to 8,87 million tons. This corresponded to per capita consumption of 23,4 kilograms, which was 200 grams more than in 2002. Compared to 2002, the degree of self-sufficiency fell by five percentage points to 102 percent.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]