Chicken meat and offal market in Switzerland

Earlier Report Observations

Switzerland's market for chicken meat and offal expanded from 128.9 thousand tons in 2018 to a peak of 141.9 thousand tons in 2022, reflecting a sustained increase in consumption. This growth was supported by a broader shift in consumer preferences toward poultry, as chicken became a more favored meat choice among Swiss consumers over the period.

The market experienced a slight contraction to 140.0 thousand tons in 2023, primarily due to a temporary reduction in domestic slaughter numbers, which reached their lowest level in over a decade. This decrease in animal processing directly limited the volume of locally produced chicken available on the market that year.

Entering 2024, new regulatory measures came into effect, including mandatory origin labeling for unpackaged fresh, chilled, or frozen poultry meat starting February 1st. Concurrently, the supply of poultry increased significantly, with imports rising to 39.1 thousand tons, indicating robust market demand and a response to the previous year's tight supply.

Production chicken meat and offal in Switzerland

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of chicken meat and offal, 2017-2020

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

In 2020, Switzerland produced 103.5 thousand tonnes of chicken meat and offal, marking a moderate increase of 5.4% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 14.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 0.7%, while the most significant increase was recorded in 2018, at 9.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Switzerland in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports chicken meat and offal from Switzerland

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 476 tonnes and peaked in 2017, with a 7.2-fold difference between these years. In 2020, chicken meat and offal shipments from Switzerland to abroad amounted to 607 tonnes, showing a dramatic rise of 27.3% from the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 84.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Switzerland in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the two leading markets—Germany and Austria—together accounted for 83.8% of total exports in kind, while the remaining volume was distributed across a wide range of other countries.

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

World map of product's exports from Switzerland in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Chicken meat and offal shipments from Switzerland to abroad increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 6.0 million US dollars, which is 22.3% higher compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 18.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.8%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 4.6 million US dollars, with the largest decline also occurring in that year at 9.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Switzerland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Austria concentrated most of the exports in value terms, taking 79.9% of total flows, with a fragmented tail of other markets.

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

World map of product's exports from Switzerland in value, 2017-2020

Imports chicken meat and offal to Switzerland

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, chicken meat and offal deliveries to Switzerland totalled 27 886 tonnes, representing a decrease of 9.2% over the past year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 16.9%, with an average annual decline rate of 6.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 0.6%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Brazil (48.1% of imports in kind), Germany (13.1% of imports in kind), and France (10.6% of imports in kind) played the leading roles in imports of chicken meat and offal to Switzerland, jointly accounting for 71.8% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The volume of chicken meat and offal imports to Switzerland declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Switzerland imported 122.8 million US dollars of chicken meat and offal, showing a measured decrease of 6.4% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 143.2 million US dollars, with the largest decline occurring in 2019 at 8.3% and the largest increase in 2018 at 14.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Switzerland in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil (31.8% of imports in value terms), Germany (19.2% of imports in value terms), and France (15.6% of imports in value terms) were the principal destinations for imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 66.7% of total flows.

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

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