The EU broiler meat production estimate for 2014 has been revised upward slightly from its previous estimates, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report. Higher production is expected mainly in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Romania. The combined increases will more than offset lower forecasts in France and Spain.
Consumers switching from other meats to broiler meat in a recession-stricken EU region will increase domestic consumption of broiler meat in 2014. Forecasts for EU broiler meat imports are now expected to remain flat in 2014 with stagnant imports from both Brazil and Thailand. EU broiler meat exports in 2014 are expected to decline slightly because of the elimination of EU exports subsidies in mid-2013 that hurt French exports of whole broilers to the Middle East, the report said.
