Philippines Chicken Meat Imports to Rise 15% by 2027 - USDA

The Philippines' chicken meat imports are projected to increase by nearly 15% to 780,000 metric tons in 2027, driven by rising demand from the food manufacturing and food service industries, according to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA forecasts that the import volume next year will be 14.7% higher than the estimated 680,000 MT in 2026. This upward trend in imports is attributed to continued growth in demand from the food manufacturing and food service sectors, fueled by population growth and an anticipated improvement in economic performance in 2027. A significant factor in this projected increase is the expected surge in imports from Brazil. Brazil is anticipated to capture the majority market share of total Philippine chicken meat imports in 2027, owing to its price competitiveness compared to other major suppliers such as the United States, the European Union (EU), and Canada. Industry contacts, including those from the food manufacturing sector, cite Brazil’s price advantage relative to export prices from other key trading partners. The United States remains the Philippines' second-largest chicken meat supplier, with substantial volumes also imported from Poland, other EU countries, and Canada. While imports from these sources are also expected to increase, their overall market share may diminish as Brazil continues to expand its dominance. Furthermore, the regionalization agreements by the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) are also contributing to the rise in imports. Agreements with the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Chile are expected to lead to increased import volumes following the lifting of import bans on their chicken meat products. Regionalization limits import bans to specific HPAI-affected areas rather than imposing a nationwide ban, thereby expanding the pool of eligible suppliers. Previously, the DA had lifted poultry bans in 2025 on countries affected by avian influenza, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia (Kelantan and Sabah), Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, and Sweden. However, the DA also imposed a moratorium in March on importing poultry from the US midwestern state of Indiana due to avian influenza outbreaks. Source: GMA Money Philippines