Chicken meat production in the European Union is forecast to rise by 2% in 2027 after growing 3.4% in 2026, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service poultry report on the EU summarised by The Poultry Site.

The report credits sustained domestic demand and reduced competition from Brazil, after the EU's ban on Brazilian chicken meat took effect on 3 September 2026. Broiler meat makes up an estimated 98% of EU chicken production; the rest comes mainly from laying hens and roosters.

Bird flu weighed less on the sector this year: European Food Safety Authority data show Europe recorded its lowest number of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases in poultry and wild birds since 2019/2020 as of June 2026.

Veterinary authorities are nonetheless concerned about the growth of free-range and organic production in several member states, because smaller, specialised systems with birds outdoors are more exposed to wild birds carrying the virus.

Heatwaves and drought across western and central Europe in late spring and summer killed thousands of birds, mostly laying hens. The direct effect on chicken output appears limited, but lower feed availability and higher feed prices raised costs, which producers are expected to pass on to retailers as in earlier periods of expensive feed. The report is by Melanie Epp.

Photo: USDAgov / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Source: The Poultry Site