January 29, 2024

Drop in Jamaica's chicken consumption last year

Jamaica's consumption of chicken in 2023 was slightly less than the year before, based on figures provided by Jamaica Broilers Limited.

The latest data from the government indicated that Jamaicans consumed 136,644,428 kilogrammes of broiler meat and 1.11 million kilogrammes of stewing hens last year. Comparatively, a total of 138,799,703 kilogrammes of broiler meat and 1.05 million kilogrammes of stewing hens were consumed in 2022.

Chicken, depending on the cut, can range in price anywhere between $350 and $400 per pound. The price for the meat was last hiked in 2022 by around 10%.

The margin of increase is less than in the United States, where chicken price rose higher in 2023 as big producers closed plants across the country.

The cost per pound of a whole chicken in that market increased by about 34% from August 2021 to August 2023, according to data from the US Department of Labor.

- Jamaica Gleaner