Growing popularity of chicken meat in the Philippines

Pork has always been the protein of choice for many Filipinos, but in 2019, for the first time, chicken overtook pork in per capita consumption. Today, the popularity of chicken MEAT in the country is only growing.

Demand for chicken in the country has reportedly grown faster than for other types of meat, and one of the reasons for this is the expansion of fast food outlets. Per capita chicken consumption increased from 11.6 kg in 2009 to 15.6 kg in 2018, with consumption averaging 13.4 kg per person per year.

In the first quarter of 2022, chicken meat production increased 13% year-over-year, according to the USDA , with large poultry farms still relatively unaffected by highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, many local governments continue to impose restrictions that go beyond the scope of the national avian influenza protection program. This has resulted in a limited availability of live chicks.

In terms of trade, the EU remains the dominant poultry meat exporter to the Philippines, followed by the US and Brazil.

Demand for mechanically deboned meat remains particularly high at the moment as it is increasingly a key raw material for the meat processing industry and the public is looking for ways to save money from rising food prices.