Poultry meat prices clearly on the rise

The poultry meat prices in the EU have been increasing again over the past few weeks. A higher demand in Northern Europe has provided a strong boost across the continent. Now that the holiday period is over, meat is simply more in demand. The average chicken meat price in the EU is rising again and has reached above €300 per 100 kilos this week. In recent weeks, the price clearly fluctuated, but the trend is now upwards. Compared to week 30, the price has increased by 3.1% to €304.33. The demand for poultry meat is clearly increasing again, especially evident in the market for freely traded chicken. According to the Barneveld quotation, the price increased by 2 cents this week, from €1.26 to €1.28 per kilo. The rise is linked to exports, driven by higher prices in Belgium. In Deinze, the Belgian quotation also rose by 2 cents, from €1.34 to €1.36 per kilo. Also, the average slaughterhouse prices in the Netherlands increased by 0.25 cents to €1.195 per kilo. End of holiday benefits the poultry meat marketThe higher prices in the poultry meat market are mainly due to a stronger demand in Northern Europe. Now that the holiday period is over, demand in the region is picking up again. Two reasons underlie this. First, most tourists have returned now that the last summer holidays have ended. This increases the number of consumers, giving a boost to the markets for fresh food. Moreover, consumers are more likely to choose chicken after the holidays. During the holiday, consumers generally spend a lot of money, leading them to cut back on food afterwards. This gives the poultry meat market a boost, as chicken is a relatively cheap source of protein. Furthermore, chicken is consumed a lot at home. The market benefits when consumers dine out less often and cook at home or buy ready-made meals more often. This last point also works in favor of the poultry meat market, as chicken is the most used protein in such processed products. Polish prices are rising again Prices in Poland are still significantly lower than in Northern Europe, but the price is creeping up again. Since the decline, the Polish market has been quite active, with significant movements up and down. The average price in the country has risen again this week to €236.37 per 100 kilos, the highest level since week 26. However, this price is still 10.4% below the level in Belgium, which serves as the most representative benchmark of Northern Europe, as the Netherlands does not report its prices to the European Union.