Poultry meat and offal market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2022, the Belgian poultry meat and offal market saw its volume expand from 704.8 thousand tonnes to a peak of 751.0 thousand tonnes. This growth was underpinned by a sustained consumer shift towards poultry, which accounted for 19.4% of total meat consumption by 2018 and continued to gain share against beef. By 2022, average poultry consumption in French-speaking Belgium had risen to 9.4 kg per capita, reflecting stronger demand. Concurrently, the market share of meat substitutes grew to 1.69%, indicating evolving protein preferences. Promotional activities by VLAM, the Flemish Agro-Marketing Board, at international fairs like SIAL helped reinforce Belgium's position as a major supplier to France, supporting export volumes.

The market contracted sharply in 2023, with the total volume falling to 675.7 thousand tonnes. A primary driver was a significant 9.9% decline in net meat production, which was not fully offset by a 3.5% increase in imports. This drop in domestic output occurred despite reported growth in apparent poultry consumption of 3.8% per capita, leading to a reduced overall supply. The production decrease coincided with the broader trend of rising meat substitute adoption, which continued to reshape consumer choices.

Production poultry meat and offal in Belgium

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

Belgium's poultry meat and offal production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output reached 892 K t, showing minimal change from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 3.7%, averaging an annual decrease of 1.3%. The highest production level was in 2018 at 939 K t, which saw a 1.3% increase. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with a 4.6% decline.

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

Exports poultry meat and offal from Belgium

Exports in kind, K t

Belgium's poultry meat and offal exports in 2020 totaled 463.1 K t, with only a slight variation from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 5.5%, translating to an average annual decline of 1.9%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 462.7 K t, which experienced a 6.3% drop. The peak was in 2018 at 493.9 K t, marking a 0.8% increase.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France, the Netherlands, and Germany were the top buyers of Belgian poultry meat and offal, accounting for 30.6%, 24.6%, and 12.6% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 67.8% of total exports.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Belgium's poultry meat and offal exports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports were valued at 815.7 M $ US, down 3.7% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 5.3%, with an average annual decrease of 1.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 921.2 M $ US, which saw a 6.9% rise. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with an 8.0% drop.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom were the primary destinations for Belgian poultry meat and offal exports in value terms, with shares of 43.5%, 22.0%, and 11.1%, respectively. Combined, they made up 76.6% of total export value.

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

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

Imports poultry meat and offal to Belgium

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, Belgium's poultry meat and offal imports declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 262.4 K t, a 5.4% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports overall increased by 4.3%, averaging an annual growth of 1.4%. The peak import volume was in 2019 at 277.4 K t, which saw a 6.8% increase.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, the Netherlands, France, and Poland were the leading sources for Belgium's poultry meat and offal imports in kind, contributing 47.4%, 21.7%, and 10.5%, respectively. Together, they accounted for 79.6% of total imports.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Belgium's poultry meat and offal imports in value terms fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, import value reached 556.2 M $ US, a slight 1.8% drop from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 11.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%. The highest value was in 2018 at 573.3 M $ US, which experienced a 14.8% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, France, and Poland consistently served as the main sources for Belgium's poultry meat and offal imports in value terms, with shares of 42.1%, 25.3%, and 13.0%, respectively. Together, they represented 80.3% of total import value.

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

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