Chicken meat and offal market in New Caledonia

Earlier Report Observations

The chicken meat and offal market in New Caledonia operates under strong state influence, primarily through the public entity OCEF which monopolizes imports and sets prices. In 2019, a global surge in meat prices linked to the African swine fever outbreak prompted OCEF to revise its tariffs, contributing to a drop in import volumes and a contraction of the total market to 9 302 t. However, supported by government policies targeting food self-sufficiency, local production increased significantly the following year, reaching 938 t in 2020 and helping lift the overall market volume to 10 654 t despite continued high import levels.

A sharp market contraction to 8 516 t occurred in 2021, coinciding with the implementation of the Bouclier Qualité Prix (BQP), a price shield framework designed to cap margins on essential goods including chicken meat. The following year, an interprofessional agreement renewed the BQP for one year to stabilize prices in an inflationary context, while global avian influenza outbreaks pushed up world prices for frozen chicken. These factors accompanied a partial market recovery to 8 937 t in 2022, even as local production dipped to 775 t.

Market volume continued its gradual recovery in 2023, rising to 9 291 t supported by imports of 8 467 t and local production of 823 t. Preliminary data for 2024 indicates import volumes of 8 118 t, suggesting a trend toward market stabilization.

Production chicken meat and offal in New Caledonia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of chicken meat and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of chicken meat and offal, 2017-2020

New Caledonia's chicken meat and offal production rebounded after a two-year decline. In 2019, production hit its lowest point at 626.6 tonnes, marking an 18.1% drop from the previous year. However, in 2020, output surged to 938.0 tonnes, a sharp 49.7% increase compared to 2019. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 6.6%, averaging an annual growth rate of 2.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in New Caledonia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports chicken meat and offal from New Caledonia

According to market analysis, New Caledonia did not export any chicken meat and offal between 2017 and 2020.

Imports chicken meat and offal to New Caledonia

Imports in kind, t

Imports of chicken meat and offal into New Caledonia showed significant fluctuations. In 2019, imports declined by 8.8%, but in 2020, they rebounded strongly, reaching 9 716 tonnes—a 12.0% increase from 2019. The largest growth occurred in 2018, with a 15.8% rise. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 18.2%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Caledonia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, France, and Brazil dominated New Caledonia's chicken meat and offal imports by volume. The United States accounted for 47.1% of imports, France for 23.8%, and Brazil for 22.8%. Together, these three countries represented 93.7% of total import flows during this period.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to New Caledonia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of chicken meat and offal into New Caledonia, measured in value terms, grew for the second year in a row. In 2018, imports fell to their lowest point at 14 789 thousand US dollars, a 2.7% decrease. However, in 2019, they jumped by 15.3%, and in 2020, they reached 18 633 thousand US dollars, up 9.2% from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 span, import value increased by 22.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 7.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Caledonia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In value terms, the United States, France, and Brazil were consistently the top sources for New Caledonia's chicken meat and offal imports from 2017 to 2020. The United States contributed 46.6% of import value, France 28.0%, and Brazil 18.7%. Combined, these three markets made up 93.3% of total import value during these years.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to New Caledonia in value, 2017-2020