Poultry is big enough to move global input markets fast, and a single metric captures the pressure of 2025 scale: global maize price spikes have been a key feed-cost driver, reshaping broiler economics across the year. At the same time, the sector operates under tight biological and regulatory constraints, from H5 and H7 avian influenza events to persistent Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence. This post brings those threads together, pairing production, trade, feed additives, and processing metrics so you can see how cost, safety risk, and output systems connect rather than sit in separate boxes.
Key Takeaways
- The global egg sector produces over 80 million tonnes of eggs annually (egg-weight equivalent), and eggs are closely linked to poultry farm output systems
- Germany’s poultry meat production was 1.0 million tonnes in 2023
- USD 129.1 billion global poultry market value in 2023 (broiler and other poultry), according to a 2024 market study
- USD 10.4 billion in the US poultry processing market revenue in 2023, according to a 2024 industry forecast
- USD 27.3 billion global poultry feed additives market size in 2023, according to a 2024 market report
- US poultry meat (broilers) exports were 4.9% of total US poultry production volume in 2023
- USD 9.6 billion value of poultry meat exports from Brazil in 2023
- USD 4.2 billion value of poultry meat exports from the United States in 2023
- Cargill’s poultry segment revenue was USD 11.6 billion in 2023, per company reporting
- Perdue Farms sold USD 9.0 billion of products in 2023, including poultry operations
- Brazil’s largest poultry exporters collectively supplied about 60% of Brazil’s poultry exports in 2023, per export concentration summaries used by trade press
- About 65% to 70% of broiler production costs are feed-related, per extension and industry references compiled by FAO
- In commercial broilers, typical carcass yield is about 70% to 75% of live weight after processing
- In 2022, global maize prices rose sharply: wheat and maize price levels were tracked as major drivers of feed costs in FAO’s Food Outlook report
- WOAH reported more than 200 H5/H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza events in 2023 affecting poultry worldwide, per annual situation reporting
Egg and poultry production stay massive, driven by feed costs, global trade, and rising disease and food safety risks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production Volume2 stats
01
The global egg sector produces over 80 million tonnes of eggs annually (egg-weight equivalent), and eggs are closely linked to poultry farm output systems
02
Germany’s poultry meat production was 1.0 million tonnes in 2023
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
For the production volume angle, the global egg sector alone generates over 80 million tonnes of eggs each year, while Germany produced 1.0 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2023, underscoring how large-scale output in both eggs and meat drives overall poultry production volume.
02 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
USD 129.1 billion global poultry market value in 2023 (broiler and other poultry), according to a 2024 market study
02
USD 10.4 billion in the US poultry processing market revenue in 2023, according to a 2024 industry forecast
03
USD 27.3 billion global poultry feed additives market size in 2023, according to a 2024 market report
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the poultry industry is already massive with a 2023 global market value of USD 129.1 billion and it keeps extending into related segments like the USD 27.3 billion global poultry feed additives market, underscoring strong and growing demand beyond just bird production.
03 · Category
Trade Flows3 stats
01
US poultry meat (broilers) exports were 4.9% of total US poultry production volume in 2023
02
USD 9.6 billion value of poultry meat exports from Brazil in 2023
03
USD 4.2 billion value of poultry meat exports from the United States in 2023
Interpretation
Trade Flows Interpretation
From a trade flows perspective, exports are a meaningful outlet for poultry producers with US broiler exports reaching 4.9% of total US production volume in 2023, while Brazil led poultry meat export value at USD 9.6 billion compared with USD 4.2 billion from the United States.
04 · Category
Concentration & Players3 stats
01
Cargill’s poultry segment revenue was USD 11.6 billion in 2023, per company reporting
02
Perdue Farms sold USD 9.0 billion of products in 2023, including poultry operations
03
Brazil’s largest poultry exporters collectively supplied about 60% of Brazil’s poultry exports in 2023, per export concentration summaries used by trade press
Interpretation
Concentration & Players Interpretation
In the concentration and players lens, the biggest firms and origins dominate the market with Cargill and Perdue generating 11.6 billion and 9.0 billion respectively in 2023, while Brazil’s leading exporters jointly account for about 60% of the country’s poultry exports, underscoring how scale and clustering drive competitive power.
05 · Category
Efficiency & Feed7 stats
01
About 65% to 70% of broiler production costs are feed-related, per extension and industry references compiled by FAO
02
In commercial broilers, typical carcass yield is about 70% to 75% of live weight after processing
03
In 2022, global maize prices rose sharply: wheat and maize price levels were tracked as major drivers of feed costs in FAO’s Food Outlook report
04
In 2023, soybean meal prices remained volatile, reaching around USD 450 per metric ton at certain points in the year, per World Bank Pink Sheet commodity price data
05
Global poultry feed production was about 490 million metric tons in 2022, per FAO’s feed statistics summary (feed mills using poultry feed demand)
06
A typical broiler brooding temperature program starts around 32°C to 34°C in week 1 and is reduced to about 20°C by week 6–7
07
Standardized ileal digestibility (SID) amino acid improvements in enzyme-supplemented diets can reduce crude protein needs by around 2 percentage points while maintaining performance (peer-reviewed)
Interpretation
Efficiency & Feed Interpretation
Efficiency and feed are the core cost drivers in poultry, since about 65% to 70% of broiler production costs are feed-related and feed input pressures are intensified by global maize and soybean meal price swings, pushing broiler operations to rely on strategies like improved amino acid digestibility that can cut crude protein needs by roughly 2 percentage points without sacrificing performance.
06 · Category
Risk & Disease3 stats
01
WOAH reported more than 200 H5/H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza events in 2023 affecting poultry worldwide, per annual situation reporting
02
Salmonella contamination is a persistent food-safety concern: a meta-analysis estimated non-typhoidal Salmonella prevalence in poultry meat at around 20% (varies by study and method)
03
In the EU, the European Food Safety Authority reported thousands of confirmed campylobacter and salmonella human cases annually, with poultry-related risk emphasized in zoonoses summaries
Interpretation
Risk & Disease Interpretation
In the Risk and Disease arena, highly pathogenic H5 and H7 avian influenza struck more than 200 times worldwide in 2023, while non-typhoidal Salmonella remains widespread in poultry meat at about 20%, reinforcing that poultry continues to be a persistent driver of zoonotic and food safety threats.
07 · Category
Regulation & Sustainability7 stats
01
Global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions are about 12 gigatonnes CO2e per year; animal production (including poultry-related systems) is a major contributor per IPCC
02
The EU introduced the Farm to Fork target to cut antimicrobial use by 50% by 2030; adoption status is tracked by European Commission and AMR reporting
03
EU Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 requires feed to be labeled and that feed must be safe; this directly affects poultry feed distribution and compliance
04
EU Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 lays down requirements for feed hygiene; compliance applies to poultry feed used in farms
05
EU Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 sets standards for the protection of animals at the time of killing, including poultry slaughter
06
In the US, FSIS requires hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) systems for poultry processing under 9 CFR Part 417
07
In the US, federal recall notices show poultry companies issued dozens of recalls per year for microbial contamination risks such as Salmonella and Campylobacter (counted in FDA recall database for poultry)
Interpretation
Regulation & Sustainability Interpretation
Under the Regulation & Sustainability lens, poultry faces tightening oversight on both emissions and food safety, with EU antimicrobial use targeted for a 50% cut by 2030 and major feed, animal welfare, and processing rules alongside ongoing US microbial recall activity driven by risks like Salmonella and Campylobacter.
More related reading
08 · Category
Food Safety3 stats
01
Salmonella prevalence in poultry meat of 20.9% was reported in a systematic review/meta-analysis (pooled estimate)
02
Campylobacter prevalence in chicken meat of 31.2% was reported in a systematic review/meta-analysis (pooled estimate)
03
Globally, around 1.1 billion people fell ill from foodborne diseases and 420,000 died in 2010-2019 (WHO estimate)—poultry pathogens are among major contributors
Interpretation
Food Safety Interpretation
Food safety risk in poultry remains high as meta-analyses report 20.9% Salmonella and 31.2% Campylobacter prevalence in meat, aligning with WHO estimates of about 1.1 billion foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths from 2010 to 2019.
09 · Category
Market Economics1 stats
01
The global poultry feed market is projected to reach $88.9 billion by 2030 (from $52.2 billion in 2022)
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
From 2022 to 2030, the global poultry feed market is projected to climb from $52.2 billion to $88.9 billion, signaling strong, expanding market economics momentum for the poultry industry.
10 · Category
Trade & Exports1 stats
01
In 2022, the global poultry meat trade exceeded 43 million tonnes (export volume across major traders)
Interpretation
Trade & Exports Interpretation
In 2022, the global poultry meat trade topped 43 million tonnes across major traders, underscoring just how large and actively traded the poultry market is within the Trade and Exports category.
11 · Category
Consumption1 stats
01
In 2023, poultry accounted for 36% of global animal protein consumption (by weight, poultry meat)
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
In 2023, poultry made up 36% of global animal protein consumption by weight, showing it remains a major and growing share of what people worldwide eat under the Consumption category.
12 · Category
Regulation & Compliance1 stats
01
The EU’s Regulation (EU) 2019/4 sets rules for the use of antimicrobial substances in medicated feed for food-producing animals
Interpretation
Regulation & Compliance Interpretation
The EU Regulation (EU) 2019/4 is a key compliance benchmark for poultry companies because it explicitly governs how antimicrobial substances can be used in medicated feed for food producing animals.
13 · Category
Performance Metrics1 stats
01
In 2022, global broiler feed conversion ratio (FCR) averaged about 1.55 kg feed per kg live weight (worldwide benchmark)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In 2022, the global broiler feed conversion ratio averaged about 1.55 kg of feed per kg of live weight, showing strong and efficient performance in poultry production under the performance metrics benchmark.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Poultry Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poultry-industry-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Poultry Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/poultry-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Poultry Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/poultry-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)