THERE was a 1% increase in poultry meat produced in the UK in 2017, compared to 2016, as production increased by 13,600 tonnes to 1.8m, according to Defra data. 

Production from boiler chickens, which accounts for around 85% of all poultry meat produced in the UK, totalled 1.6m tonnes in 2017, up 2% (35,800 tonnes) year-on-year. The total number of broiler chickens slaughtered rose by 4% (44.3m birds) during the same period, to 1.03bn birds, while the number of boiling fowl (which includes spent hens and spent breeders) declined by 6% (3590 birds) year-on-year, to 53,300.

The number of broiler chick placings has been increasing over the past three years and in 2017 increased by 3% (34.6m chicks) on-the-year, to 1047.2m chicks. In every month, apart from December, the number of chick placings increased on the year and in the first two months of 2018 broiler chick placings also recorded strong year-on-year increases.

In contrast, there was a decline in the production of turkey meat of 11% ((18,000 tonnes) on the year to 146,600 tonnes, while the number of turkeys slaughtered declined by 8% (1m birds), to 13.1m birds. In addition, the average liveweight of a turkey at slaughter fell below 13kg for the first time since 2012, to 12.7kg per head. Duck meat is proving popular as production increased by 4% (1000 tonnes) on the year to 30,600 tonnes.

There was a reduction in the amount of fresh/frozen meat imported in 2017 compared to 2016, as a drop of 7% (31,100 tonnes) resulted in 410,000 tonnes imported, according to data from HMRC. On the other side of the equation, UK exports of chicken grew by 18% (47,100 tonnes) in 2017 to 309,900 tonnes.

More than 95% of UK imports of fresh/frozen chicken meat imports come from other EU countries, while just over three quarters of exports are destined for the EU. As with the pig sector, trade plays an important role in balancing the carcase. 

So far in 2018, chicken has performed strongly in the supermarkets, somewhat bucking the trend of other proteins. In the 12 weeks ending February 25, there were 18% more promotions on chicken which has helped support an increase in volume sold.