Italian poultry demand outpaces production as imports rise 12.3%
Italian poultry meat and egg consumption rose 8% in the first half of 2026, exceeding production growth in both segments. Poultry imports increased 12.3%, although Italy retained a positive trade balance by volume.
Consumption grows faster than output
Italy’s poultry industry entered 2026 with domestic consumption growing faster than production, pushing a sector traditionally associated with self-sufficiency toward greater reliance on imports. According to Il Sole 24 Ore, Unaitalia estimates that poultry meat production increased 5.3% in the first half of 2026, while consumption rose 8%.
The same imbalance appeared in eggs. Output increased 2.3% during the period, compared with an 8% rise in consumption. The figures suggest that additional domestic supply has not been sufficient to match the acceleration in demand across either of the industry’s main segments.
This follows a strong 2025. Italian white-meat production grew 1.73% from 2024, while per-capita consumption reached a record 22.47 kilograms, up 1.91%. Egg consumption reached 234 eggs per person, although the country’s egg self-sufficiency rate stood at 94%. For poultry meat, Italy produced the equivalent of 105% of its 2025 domestic requirement.
Imports expand but trade balance stays positive
The gap between supply and consumption changed Italy’s poultry trade flows during the first six months of 2026. Imports rose 12.3%, from 60,000 to 68,000 tonnes, while exports fell 4.4%, from 100,000 to 95,000 tonnes. The country therefore remained a net exporter by volume, but its surplus narrowed as more domestic production was directed toward the Italian market.
Unaitalia president Antonio Forlini attributed demand growth to poultry’s protein content and low fat, its price-to-quality ratio and the increasing presence of Muslim consumers. He said the expansion does not appear temporary. The wider European market shows a similar direction: per-capita poultry consumption in the EU has reached 29.3 kilograms, an increase of 9.3% since 2020, while production grew 5.6%.
Rabobank expects poultry consumption to expand by 2% annually through 2032, while global consumption is estimated to grow 25% by 2035. For Italian producers and processors, maintaining market share will therefore depend on adding output without weakening competitiveness, food safety or investment capacity. Unaitalia has called for long-term planning and simpler EU rules as production costs rise.
Investment and disease risks shape capacity
The national poultry sector generated about €9.74 billion in revenue in 2025, with foreign markets accounting for 14.3%. Poultry meat contributed an estimated €6.02 billion and eggs €3.73 billion. The supply chain includes about 6,800 farming and processing businesses and employs around 64,000 people: 38,500 in farming and 25,500 in meat and egg processing.
Any production expansion must also account for avian influenza, which continues to threaten farms in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. Unaitalia is seeking stronger training, prevention, biosecurity, surveillance and rapid-response capacity, alongside new mutual funds for risk management. European authorities recently approved €73.25 million for Italy to cover indirect damage from avian influenza and swine fever during 2022-2025. Producers said rapid and simple distribution of the support is essential, but argued that compensation must be accompanied by stronger preventive measures.
