Pakistan chicken prices to fall soon

Poultry prices in Pakistan are expected to return to normal in March as farmers have restarted their production.

Poultry prices were high, as producers were either forced out of business or had reduced output, while demand remained strong, according to industry officials.

Officials said chicken prices had remained low during December and January due to reduced consumption during the months of Muharram and Safar, resulting in losses to farmers and the closure of some poultry farms.

Chicken prices rose in the first week of February and reached PKR178 per kg. Chicken meat price on Thursday (Feb 19) was PKR174 per kg, while chicken was sold for PKR110 per kg.

Prices will start to decline again in the coming two weeks, said Syed Javed Hussain Bukhari, the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) North Zone secretary.

Nearly 40 percent of farms closed when prices dropped to PKR90 per kg, but farmers have begun to breed fresh stocks, said Bukhari, estimating that chicken prices will return to PKR125 per kg in March because there would be enough supply.