Chicken meat imports seen roosting higher in 2026

Chicken cargos bound for the Philippines are projected to climb next year. This would be driven by the lifting of import bans due to bird flu, robust consumer demand and strong economic growth.

In a report, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service estimated chicken imports at 560,000 metric tons (MT) in 2026. That means an increase of 1.8 percent from 550,000 MT a year prior.

According to the USDA, the lifting of temporary import bans related to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), sustained consumer demand and robust economic growth supported its latest forecast.

The USDA also said the increase in the number of accredited foreign suppliers facilitates greater volumes of chicken meat entering the Philippine market.

Domestic chicken output is expected to rise by 7 percent to 1.81 million MT ready-to-cook in 2026. This was recorded at 1.69 million MT a year ago.

According to the USDA, the commercial rollout of the bird flu vaccine and enhanced biosecurity measures adopted by poultry farms will drive chicken imports. That, along with the tight pork supply due to the continued prevalence of African swine fever.

To recall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the commercial use of Volvac BEST (Baculovirus Expressed System Technology) AI plus ND in August. Germany-based pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim developed the vaccine.

“Additionally, the sustained food service sector growth and heightened demand are expected to fuel expansion and improvements in chicken production operations,” the report said.

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The Philippines imported 154.54 million MT of chicken in the January to April period. The volume climbed by 14.9 percent from the same period last year, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed.

Chicken imports comprised 32.6 percent of 473.46 million kg of meat that arrived in the Philippines as of end-May.

The United States, one of the country’s major sources of meat, delivered 43.36 million kg of chicken. This represents 9.2 percent of overall chicken imports.