4:53 18 May 2026
Chinese poultry threatens Poland's crown
Poland — the EU's largest poultry producer with 21% of total bloc output and the world's third-largest exporter by volume — is facing a twin competitive threat from China and South America that industry leaders warn could erode its dominance within years. China has increased poultry production by nearly 3 million tonnes over six years, becoming the world's second-largest broiler producer at 17.3 million tonnes annually, while its exports to Europe jumped from 20,000 tonnes in 2020 to 105,000 tonnes in 2025. Chinese producers hold a structural pricing advantage: unlike European counterparts who derive most value from breast fillet, Chinese firms sell high-value cuts such as wings and feet domestically, allowing them to export fillet at below-market prices. Poland's own access to the Chinese market has been blocked since 2020 over avian influenza restrictions, despite a bilateral agreement signed in 2025 to resume trade. The EU-Mercosur deal presents a separate near-term risk: Brazil currently ships 360,000 tonnes of poultry to the EU annually and will gain an additional 180,000-tonne quota within five years of the agreement coming into force. Poland's poultry export value reached a record €6.6 billion in 2025.
Source: pb.pl
