The global poultry market continues to grow across various regions of the world, despite the challenges that remain. This optimism reinforces expectations that the upward momentum will continue into 2026.

The global poultry market in 2026 is projected to remain on a positive trajectory. Amid ongoing pressures such as the threat of avian influenza outbreaks, supply constraints in certain regions, and the dynamics of international trade, the poultry sector has continued to demonstrate strong adaptability—particularly due to its position as a relatively affordable and widely accessible source of animal protein worldwide.

Production and Consumption Continue to Rise

Growth in both poultry production and consumption is expected to continue this year, although with varying dynamics across regions. According to projections from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), global chicken meat production in 2026 is estimated to reach approximately 109.6 million tons, an increase of about 2% compared to the previous year. This growth is mainly driven by significant increases in China, Brazil, the United States, and the European Union.

China remains the leading producer, recording the largest increase among major producing countries, as white broilers and hybrid broilers continue to be the main drivers of poultry industry growth in the country.

In South America, Brazil’s poultry production is expected to reach a record high, supported by overall lower input costs, currency depreciation that enhances competitiveness, and rising external demand as access to key markets such as China and the European Union recovers. In addition, Brazil’s commercial poultry production facilities have been declared free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since May 2025, further strengthening confidence in international markets.

From an export perspective, global poultry exports in 2026 are projected to increase by around 3%, reaching a record 14.7 million tons. This would mark the third consecutive year of trade growth, driven by rising demand for affordable animal protein and population growth. However, this global expansion is largely fueled by increased shipments from Brazil and China.

Brazil’s diverse product offerings, competitive pricing, and broad market access are driving growth across nearly all major importing markets. In addition to strong export performance, relatively robust domestic consumption also plays an important role in sustaining growth in Brazil’s poultry sector. These factors position Brazil as one of the main pillars of global poultry supply heading into 2026.

Meanwhile, despite facing several market access constraints, China’s poultry exports continue to benefit from price-competitive products, trade-facilitating financing schemes, and strong demand for labor-intensive, heat-treated processed products. While Japan and Hong Kong remain China’s primary export markets, export growth is expected to be driven mainly by increased shipments to Russia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, as well as to the European Union and the United Kingdom.

At the same time, growth in poultry supply—particularly in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America—is currently progressing slowly due to limited availability of parent stock (PS). This situation is not expected to improve significantly until at least early 2026.

On the demand side, a Rabobank report emphasizes that the outlook for the global poultry industry remains strong in 2026. This projection follows solid global consumption growth of around 2.5% in 2025, after three consecutive years of consistently recording growth of approximately 3%.

This article is an excerpt from the Management Practices section of Poultry Indonesia magazine, January 2026 edition.
Read the full article in  Majalah Poultry Indonesia Edisi Januari 2026
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