March 5, 2004

China Produces 40% of Global Egg Output

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report

According to Mr Cao Xuming, President of China Food & Livestocks Import & Export Association, China is the biggest poultry farming country in the world.  In recent years, China has emerged as the largest producer of poultry eggs and the second largest producer of poultry meat in the world.

In 2003, China's production of 25.35 million tons of poultry eggs and 13.2 millions tons of poultry meat accounted for close to 40% and 17% of the world's total production of poultry eggs and meat, respectively.

Poultry industry is one of China's major agricultural industries.  According to official statistics, China's poultry stock turnover for year 2003 totaled 8.3 billion birds, while its poultry stock-on-hand stood at 4.7 billion birds.  The industry's revenue for the year amounted to RMB 241.5 billion.  Approximately 13.7 million Chinese farmers were directly engaged in poultry production, earning a total net income of RMB 27.1 billion.

Among China's livestock production industry, the poultry industry is the most industrialized sector and has the highest level of connectivity with the global market.  After many years of development, China's poultry industry has produced a number of leading enterprises with high standards of productivity, product quality as well as safety assurance.

In 2003, 70% of China's total export of poultry and its related products, amounting to more than US$0.8 billion, came from these leading enterprises. These enterprises are also the major suppliers of premium quality poultry products in China's domestic market. 

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Take broiler production for example. Out of a total production of 6.6 million tons of poultry meat in China, 3.4 million tons came from these leading enterprises. They are the main suppliers of poultry meat to China's major supermarkets, and foreign fast-food chains operating in China, like McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken.