Poultry meat and offal market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The African poultry meat and offal market volume grew steadily from 15.5 million tons in 2018 to over 18 million tons in 2021. A slight dip in 2022 was followed by a recovery to 18.1 million tons in 2023, indicating resilient overall consumption.

Key events in 2024 included record imports of frozen chicken from the European Union into the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitated by low prices that addressed rising protein demand. In South Africa, a major producer, output reached 1.83 million tons despite a severe avian influenza outbreak, high feed costs, and energy constraints. The country also banned poultry imports from Brazil due to bird flu, shifting import patterns, while the national competition commission launched a market inquiry.

Production poultry meat and offal in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

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

Africa's poultry meat and offal production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the continent produced 15 125 thousand tonnes, showing a modest increase of 7.4% compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 17%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4%.

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

Exports poultry meat and offal from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's cross-border shipments of poultry meat and offal have fallen for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 35 thousand tonnes, marking a moderate decline of 3.1% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 57.2%, with an average annual decrease of 24.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates were the main buyers of poultry meat and offal from Africa, together accounting for 2.7% of total exports in volume.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Africa's poultry meat and offal exports have declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, export value reached 117 million US dollars, down 15.2% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 18.4%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 6.5%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 149 million US dollars, with the largest increase that year of 4.4%.

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

During 2017-2020, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam consistently represented the largest share of Africa's poultry meat and offal exports in value terms, making up 2.5% of total flows.

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

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

Imports poultry meat and offal to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

After a two-year decline, Africa's imports of poultry meat and offal increased in volume. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 947 thousand tonnes, up 4.1% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 6.8%, with an average annual drop of 2.3%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 1 869 thousand tonnes, with the largest decline that year of 8.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil, the United States, and Belgium were the leading sources of poultry meat and offal imports to Africa in volume terms. Brazil accounted for 31.6% of imports, the United States for 23.3%, and Belgium for 5.9%, together representing 60.7% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Africa's poultry meat and offal imports have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import value totaled 1 654 million US dollars, a decrease of 2.7% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 13.3%, with an annualized rate of 4.7%. The highest value was in 2018 at 2 023 million US dollars, with the largest increase that year of 6.0% and the largest decline in 2019 of 15.9%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, Brazil, the United States, and Poland consistently held the top positions in Africa's poultry meat and offal imports in value terms. Brazil contributed 30.7%, the United States 24.1%, and Poland 5.4%, jointly accounting for 60.2% of total flows.

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

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