By Charlie Reeve
EU broiler prices have remained fairly steady throughout May, averaging 267 eurocents a kg for the week ending 22 May.
Prices are up by 1.9% on last month but are still down by 5.2% on the same month last year.
Broiler prices in the US have overtaken those in the EU and were equivalent to 269 eurocents a kg during the same period. Meanwhile, broiler prices in Brazil were considerably lower at 133 eurocents a kg.
EU placings of broiler chicks during March were back slightly compared with the high volumes seen in February and were also below year earlier levels.
Total broiler production in the EU has generally been up so far in 2024, with April figures totalling in excess of 800,000 tonnes.
However, recent forecasts suggest EU production may fall back slightly during May to below month earlier levels and last year’s levels.
Egg volumes
The main EU egg producers in 2022 were France and Denmark, with both accounting for roughly 14% of the total market share each, this is followed by Spain and Italy which both account for 12% respectively. Total EU egg production was 6,814,000 tonnes in 2022, which was a 4.1% fall on the previous year.
Trade
The UK was the EU’s largest export destination during the first two months of 2024, with 22,383 tonnes of eggs being imported into the UK from the EU. This accounted for more than a third of total EU egg exports.
Ukraine was the largest exporter of eggs to the EU with 10,771 tonnes being imported by the EU from Ukraine during January and February, a 57% increase on the previous year.
The second largest exporter to the EU was the UK with 2,615 tonnes being sent during the first two months of the year.
This was an increase on the same period last year but still well below the volume of eggs imported from the EU by the UK.