Live poultry exports 8 percent down

Dutch exports of live poultry were 8 percent lower in 2006 than in the previous year. Exports to Germany in particular decreased substantially, although Germany remains the main buyer of Dutch poultry. Germany is also the largest supplier of poultry imported into the Netherlands.

Trade in live poultry

Exports exceed 1 million birds a day

In 2006, the Netherlands exported 366 million live birds with a total export value of 278 million euro. The number of birds exported was 8 percent down on one year previously, but daily foreign exports still exceeded 1 million birds in 2006.

In 2003 the poultry sector was severely affected by bird flu. This outbreak halved both exports and imports compared with the previous year. After 2004 the trade recovered to its level of before the epidemic. More recent outbreaks of bird flu are also expected to have consequences for the European trade in poultry.

Germany remains largest buyer

More than half of exports of live poultry are destined for the German market. In 2006 exports to Germany fell by 35 percent to just over 198 million birds. In spite of this, Germany is still the largest buyer of Dutch poultry. Exports of live poultry to Belgium more than doubled in the same period. 

Exports of live poultry

More poultry imported

Imports of live poultry rose by 6 percent in 2006. A total 198 million birds were imported into the Netherlands, at a total value of 231 million euro. Almost all imported poultry comes from within the European Union.

Germany is by far the main supplier of live poultry. In 2006, 83 percent of imported birds came from Germany. Other countries which supplied substantial numbers of birds to the Netherlands are Belgium (11 percent of Dutch imports) and the United Kingdom (3 percent).

Imports of live poultry

Considerably more hatching eggs exported

In 2006, 365 million hatching eggs for poultry were exported. This is 40 percent more than in 2005. Exports of hatching eggs to Germany and Belgium, in particular, were clearly higher. However, the share of EU countries fell slightly, to 64 percent. The share of Africa and Asia did rise in 2006.

Wiel Packbier