Soaring to new heights with a remarkable 5.2% growth in production, the Saudi poultry industry is confidently striding towards self-sufficiency, transforming its agricultural landscape and meeting soaring domestic demand through impressive innovation and scale.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Saudi Arabia's poultry production reached 1.65 million metric tons of broiler meat, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022.
- The Kingdom produced 1.42 billion broiler chickens in 2022, with an average live weight of 2.4 kg per bird.
- Poultry farms in Saudi Arabia numbered 1,250 operational units in 2023, concentrated in Riyadh and Eastern Provinces.
- Saudi per capita poultry meat consumption was 48.5 kg in 2023, highest in GCC region.
- Total poultry meat demand in Saudi Arabia hit 1.7 million MT in 2023, driven by population growth.
- Table egg consumption reached 142 eggs per capita annually in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
- Saudi poultry market valued at SAR 18.5 billion in 2023, growing 7.8% YoY.
- Poultry sector contributed 1.2% to Saudi GDP in 2023, employing 85,000 workers.
- Almarai Poultry division revenue reached SAR 4.2 billion in 2023 fiscal year.
- Saudi poultry exports grew 15% to 180,000 MT in 2023, mainly to UAE and Jordan.
- Poultry imports into Saudi Arabia fell to 35,000 MT in 2023, 98% breeding stock.
- UAE received 45% of Saudi poultry exports, valued at SAR 380 million in 2023.
- Poultry sector water usage averaged 12 liters per kg meat produced in 2023.
- Solar power adoption in Saudi poultry farms reached 28% of energy needs in 2023.
- Antibiotic usage in Saudi flocks reduced by 40% since 2018, to 15 mg/kg in 2023.
Saudi Arabia's poultry industry is growing rapidly, driven by high domestic consumption.
Consumption
1Saudi per capita poultry meat consumption was 48.5 kg in 2023, highest in GCC region.
Verified2Total poultry meat demand in Saudi Arabia hit 1.7 million MT in 2023, driven by population growth.
Verified3Table egg consumption reached 142 eggs per capita annually in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Verified4Fast food sector accounted for 35% of poultry meat consumption in KSA in 2023.
Directional5Household poultry purchases made up 52% of total consumption volume in 2023.
Single source6Halal-certified poultry demand grew 12% YoY in Saudi domestic market in 2023.
Verified7Urban areas consumed 68% of total poultry products in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Verified8Processed poultry products like nuggets saw 18% consumption increase in 2023.
Verified9Ramadan period boosted poultry consumption by 25% in March-April 2023.
Directional10Poultry imports for consumption dropped to 2% of total supply in 2023 due to self-sufficiency.
Single source11Youth demographic (18-35) drove 40% of premium poultry consumption in KSA 2023.
Verified12Online poultry sales grew to 15% of total consumption channels in 2023.
Verified13Organic poultry demand rose 22% in Saudi market, reaching 50,000 MT in 2023.
Verified14Poultry meat prices averaged SAR 12.5/kg in retail markets throughout 2023.
Directional15Hajj and Umrah pilgrims consumed 120,000 tons of poultry meat in 2023 season.
Single sourceConsumption Interpretation
While Saudi Arabia’s staggering poultry consumption crowns it the GCC champion, fueled by everything from family dinners and fast-food cravings to Ramadan feasts and pilgrim meals, the real story is a nation increasingly feeding its own appetite through domestic production, with a side of halal, online shopping, and premium nuggets for the youth.
Economic
1Saudi poultry market valued at SAR 18.5 billion in 2023, growing 7.8% YoY.
Verified2Poultry sector contributed 1.2% to Saudi GDP in 2023, employing 85,000 workers.
Verified3Almarai Poultry division revenue reached SAR 4.2 billion in 2023 fiscal year.
Verified4Tanmiah Foods reported SAR 2.8 billion revenue from poultry operations in 2023.
Directional5Investment in Saudi poultry reached SAR 15 billion cumulative by end of 2023.
Single source6Average broiler farm profitability margin was 18% in Saudi Arabia 2023.
Verified7Poultry feed costs represented 65% of total production expenses in 2023.
Verified8Government subsidies to poultry sector totaled SAR 1.1 billion in 2023.
Verified9Export revenues from Saudi poultry products hit SAR 850 million in 2023.
Directional1045 major poultry companies operated in KSA, with top 5 holding 60% market share in 2023.
Single source11Labor costs in poultry sector averaged SAR 4,500/month per worker in 2023.
Verified12Poultry processing plants generated SAR 3.2 billion in value added in 2023.
Verified13R&D spending in Saudi poultry reached SAR 250 million in 2023.
Verified14Poultry sector ROI averaged 22% for integrated firms in Saudi 2023.
Directional15Bank loans to poultry industry totaled SAR 8.5 billion outstanding in 2023.
Single source16Saudi poultry market projected to grow at 6.5% CAGR to 2028, reaching SAR 25B.
Verified17Veterinary services costs for poultry farms averaged SAR 1.2/bird in 2023.
VerifiedEconomic Interpretation
While the Saudi poultry industry is plucking its way to a projected SAR 25 billion market—with enviable profitability margins and significant GDP contribution—it remains heavily subsidized and feed-cost dependent, showing it's still a sector where the government has to help keep all the eggs in one very lucrative basket.
Production
1In 2023, Saudi Arabia's poultry production reached 1.65 million metric tons of broiler meat, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022.
Verified2The Kingdom produced 1.42 billion broiler chickens in 2022, with an average live weight of 2.4 kg per bird.
Verified3Poultry farms in Saudi Arabia numbered 1,250 operational units in 2023, concentrated in Riyadh and Eastern Provinces.
Verified4Feed efficiency in Saudi broiler flocks improved to 1.65 kg feed per kg live weight in 2023.
Directional5Egg production from layers reached 4.8 billion table eggs in Saudi Arabia during 2022.
Single source6Broiler slaughter capacity in Saudi integrated plants exceeded 1.2 million birds per day in 2023.
Verified7Saudi poultry sector utilized 4.2 million tons of corn for feed in 2023, 85% imported.
Verified8Hatchery output for day-old chicks hit 1.55 billion in 2022 across 25 major hatcheries.
Verified9Mortality rates in Saudi broiler farms dropped to 3.8% in 2023 due to better biosecurity.
Directional10Grandparent stock imports for Saudi poultry were 2.5 million birds in 2023 from global breeders.
Single source11Saudi Arabia's table egg production capacity stood at 5.2 billion eggs annually in 2023.
Verified12Integrated poultry companies produced 75% of total broiler meat in Saudi Arabia in 2022.
Verified13Average cycle time for broilers in Saudi farms was 38 days in 2023, yielding 2.5 kg birds.
Verified14Poultry manure production reached 2.8 million tons in 2023, used for organic fertilizers.
Directional15Vaccination coverage for Newcastle disease in Saudi flocks exceeded 98% in 2023.
Single sourceProduction Interpretation
That's a lot of chickens, and with a 5.2% increase in meat production, improved feed efficiency, and plummeting mortality rates, it's clear the Saudi poultry industry is no longer just winging it, but rather running a seriously tight, vertically integrated operation from grandparent stock to organic fertilizer.
Sustainability
1Poultry sector water usage averaged 12 liters per kg meat produced in 2023.
Verified2Solar power adoption in Saudi poultry farms reached 28% of energy needs in 2023.
Verified3Antibiotic usage in Saudi flocks reduced by 40% since 2018, to 15 mg/kg in 2023.
Verified4Organic waste recycling from poultry plants hit 95% efficiency in 2023.
Directional5Carbon footprint of Saudi broiler production was 2.1 kg CO2/kg meat in 2023.
Single source665 Saudi farms certified for animal welfare standards (GlobalG.A.P.) in 2023.
Verified7Poultry litter biogas plants produced 150 GWh electricity equivalent in 2023.
Verified8Water recycling rate in processing plants reached 75% in major facilities 2023.
Verified9Salmonella prevalence in Saudi poultry dropped to 1.2% in 2023 testing.
Directional10120 poultry farms adopted precision farming tech for feed optimization in 2023.
Single source11Ammonia emissions from farms reduced 25% via better ventilation in 2023.
Verified12Biodiversity programs around 50 poultry sites planted 200,000 trees in 2023.
VerifiedSustainability Interpretation
While Saudi poultry farmers appear to be conducting a masterclass in efficiency—squeezing water, slashing antibiotics, recycling waste, and even powering up with solar and chicken-poop biogas—all while letting the chickens breathe easier and planting a small forest on the side, proving that sustainable protein doesn't have to be a flight of fancy.
Trade
1Saudi poultry exports grew 15% to 180,000 MT in 2023, mainly to UAE and Jordan.
Verified2Poultry imports into Saudi Arabia fell to 35,000 MT in 2023, 98% breeding stock.
Verified3UAE received 45% of Saudi poultry exports, valued at SAR 380 million in 2023.
Verified4Jordan imported 25,000 MT of frozen chicken from Saudi in 2023.
Directional5Saudi halal poultry certified exports reached 22 countries in 2023.
Single source6Breeding stock imports from USA totaled 1.2 million birds worth $45M in 2023.
Verified7EU imposed temporary ban on Saudi poultry exports in Q1 2023, lifted later.
Verified8Oman imported SAR 120M worth of Saudi table eggs in 2023.
Verified9Logistics costs for poultry exports averaged SAR 1.5/kg in 2023.
Directional10Free trade zones handled 60% of poultry re-exports from KSA in 2023.
Single source11Brazil supplied 70% of Saudi corn imports for poultry feed in 2023.
Verified12Saudi poultry export certification aligned with 15 international standards in 2023.
Verified13Kuwait market share for Saudi poultry exports was 12% in 2023.
VerifiedTrade Interpretation
The Kingdom's poultry sector has cooked up a serious success story, deftly flipping from a reliance on imports to a major exporter by hatching a sophisticated, standards-compliant supply chain that now feeds its neighbors, even as it strategically imports the high-quality breeding stock needed to keep the golden eggs coming.
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