Poultry meat and offal market in Congo

Earlier Report Observations

The Congolese poultry market is characterized by a heavy reliance on imports to cover the shortfall in domestic production, which remained stable at around 13–14 thousand tons annually from 2018 to 2023. In 2018, imports operated under Law No. 3‑2007, which requires prior authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for all poultry products. Market volume dipped slightly in 2019 despite the strengthening of multilateral trade agreements such as those within CEMAC and ZLECAF, which were designed to facilitate import flows. The following year, an economic slowdown reduced the value of imports, but the physical volume of imports and total market size grew, underscoring the ongoing dependency on foreign supply.

From 2021 onward, with no major legislative changes reported, market expansion was driven primarily by rising imports, which increased from 144.8 thousand tons in 2021 to 195.2 thousand tons in 2023, pushing the total market volume from 158.2 to 208.9 thousand tons. In 2022, the government introduced a multi‑year Priority Action Programme (PPAP 2022‑2026) that explicitly targets poultry sector development, including measures to combat animal diseases and support local breeding, though domestic production levels remained largely unchanged during the period.

In early 2024, a sanitary ban was imposed on the marketing and consumption of frozen poultry from Poland via the Netherlands, potentially affecting import channels. Concurrently, two protected agricultural zones (ZAPs) were officially opened in Mossendjo and Mbanza Kaka to bolster national poultry output, with additional zones like Bambou Mingali expected to supply broilers to the market. The regulatory framework of Law No. 3‑2007 continues to govern import procedures.

Production poultry meat and offal in Congo

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of poultry meat and offal, 2017-2020

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

After rising for two consecutive years, poultry meat and offal production in Congo declined. In 2020, production reached 13 420 tonnes, showing a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.6%. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 2.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%. The peak was recorded in 2019 at 13 497 tonnes, which represented the largest annual increase of 1.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Congo in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports poultry meat and offal from Congo

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Congo exported 0.2 thousand tonnes of poultry meat and offal, reflecting a sharp decrease of 75.7% compared to 2019.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, two countries—the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkey—accounted for the majority of Congo's poultry meat and offal exports in volume terms, together representing 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Congo's poultry meat and offal export value reached 0.1 million US dollars, showing a sharp drop of 73.4% compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, two countries—Turkey and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—concentrated the majority of Congo's poultry meat and offal exports in value terms, with a combined share of 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports poultry meat and offal to Congo

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Congo imported 123.0 thousand tonnes of poultry meat and offal, representing a significant increase of 14.8% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 18.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.9%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 4.7%.

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

During 2017-2020, the United States (47.0% of imports in volume), Turkey (12.3% of imports in volume), and Brazil (9.1% of imports in volume) continued to be the main suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Congo, jointly accounting for 68.4% of total imports in volume terms.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Congo's poultry meat and offal import value totalled 119.6 million US dollars, reflecting a measured improvement of 8.3% compared with 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 6.1%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 110.4 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 2.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (43.1% of imports in value), Turkey (13.1% of imports in value), and Brazil (9.7% of imports in value) remained the principal suppliers of poultry meat and offal to Congo, jointly accounting for 66.0% of total imports in value terms.

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

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