The Czech Republic is a net importer of poultry meat

Own production is not enough

The Czech Republic, one of the ten EU accession countries, is dependent on purchases for the supply of poultry meat. The most recent data for 2003 shows a degree of self-sufficiency of around 92 percent, which was even 2,5 percentage points less than in 2002. The per capita consumption of poultry meat in the Czech Republic last year was 24,1 kilograms, that was 800 grams more than in 2002. The consumption level in the area of ​​the EU-15 with an estimated 23,4 kilograms for 2003 is thus exceeded.

Chicken meat accounted for the bulk of Czech poultry meat production last year, at around 85 percent. However, as the development of fattening poultry stocks indicates, production in this area has recently been declining. On the other hand, there was growth in the duck and goose sectors.

The Czech additional need for poultry meat increased in 2003, imports increased by 63 percent. Exports, on the other hand, grew comparatively moderately by eight percent. In any case, they are still well below the import volume.

Source: Bonn [ZmP]