In 2006, a total of 74,687,100 tonnes of poultry, including all fresh, uncooked and unprocessed chicken, duck, goose, turkey and guinea fowl, were consumed across the globe, according to the latest research findings from Euromonitor International. The largest volumes of poultry were consumed in Asia Pacific, with China consuming the largest share of 17,486,500 tonnes. However, the Chinese only consumed 13.4 kg of poultry per capita, far behind Israel, where the population consumed 43.3 kg per capita in 2006. The leading markets in terms of per capita consumption also include the USA, where the high usage of chicken in fast food restaurants accounts for the consumption of 37.6 kg per capita.

Euromonitor International reports a 25.6 per cent increase in the volume of poultry sold across the globe from 2000 to 2006. Eastern Europe experienced the largest regional increase of 43 per cent due to the wide availability of cheap grain for feed. The per capita consumption of poultry increased by an impressive 75.3 per cent in Russia between 2000 and 2006, as the Russian population consumed an extra five kilograms of poultry over the period. The poultry market in Poland also enjoyed substantial growth as disposable incomes rose and consumers became more health-conscious, opting for chicken as it is considered to be healthier.
Overall, there has been an increase in poultry consumption in the majority of country markets over the past six years, despite health concerns related to the outbreak of avian flu. However, from 2006 until 2010, a number of countries will report a decrease in per capita consumption of poultry, including Hungary and the Czech Republic. In Hungary, poultry producers are struggling to adapt to the loss of lavish government support after their recent accession to the EU, while meat consumption in general in the Czech Republic is falling due to a change in national diet since the fall of communism.



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