Denmark imported poultry demand and exports increase

The imported poultry consumption is rising in Denmark as well as a comparable increase in chicken exports.

Despite the fact that 8.5% of imported poultry is salmonella-infected compared to 0% for Danish poultry, the consumption of imported poultry in Denmark still rises.

According to statistics from the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, 52% of the Danish consumption of poultry was imported in the first 10 months of 2009.

Moreover, Danish poultry farmers have also increased their chicken exports from one million chickens in 2006 to 7.3 million in 2009 as a result of the 15-20% higher prices offered by foreign poultry slaughterhouses compared to Danish suppliers.

Martin Merrild, head of the poultry producer division in the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, expects this development to continue as long as the Danish poultry farmers get higher prices abroad.