Mexican poultry production continues climbing even in the face of additional avian influenza outbreaks. Consumers are demanding increasing volumes of broiler meat which is leading to greater imports even with the threat of antidumping duties on U.S. chicken leg quarters. U.S. exports of poultry
meat and products will likely top $1 billion again in 2013 as food manufacturers, retail outlets, and restaurants gain experience handling U.S. product.
Production:
Poultry
The Post forecast of Mexican commercial broiler meat production for 2014 is 3.05 million metric tons (MMT) as the sector’s continued consolidation along with improved production systems has enabled the industry to overcome the challenges of the 2012 and 2013 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks across the country. Sources continue emphasizing that the 2012 HPAI outbreak in the State of Jalisco had minimal effect on commercial broiler meat production and product availability as the problems was largely isolated to layer operations. Implementation of biosecurity programs and other measures to support the progenitor sector has been an essential to maintaining production growth. Mexican broiler producers are optimistic that full recovery is possible by the end of 2013 or early 2014 provided that they are isolated against any potential new AI outbreaks.
Post’s 2013 revised broiler production estimate of 3.0 MMT takes into account industry’s ability to safeguard itself against larger HPAI losses and reflects long-term trends of steady growth. According to the National Poultry Union (UNA), the 2012 domestic flock decreased only 2.5 percent despite the attention focused on the sector for the HPAI losses as many of the affected farms were layer operations and do not factor into broiler production. Post’s 2012 broiler production estimate remains unchanged.
