April 7, 2004

 

 

China's Per Capita Consumption of Poultry Meat is A Mere 10 Kg 

 

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report
                

China's "White paper on Consumption of Safe Poultry Products" recently revealed that consumption of poultry products remain low in the diet of Chinese people in the country. China's per capita consumption of poultry meat is a mere 10 kg.

 

On the morning of April 4, a chicken-eating competition was held in the street of Wangfujing, Beijing's major shopping district. China's largest poultry processing companies such as Beijing Huadu Broiler, Beijing Dafa Chia Tai and Liaoning Dacheng (Great Wall) gave a "Safe Products Declaration" to consumers of poultry products in China.

 

The participating companies exhort consumers to demand the following actions by poultry producers:

• Insist on products from companies that comply with the principle of "Health, Concern & Care";
  
  
• Never use hormone;
  
  
• Supply "green" poultry products;
  
  
• Demand branded poultry products.

A Good Opportunity For Well-Known Poultry Product Brands To Increase Market Share

 

Early this year, China's poultry market was struck by the outbreak of avian flu and the market was severely hit. The shrinking market has caused many small poultry production companies in China to cease production or switched to other businesses.

 

"Although the avian flu outbreak has been brought under control, consumers are still scared of consuming domestic poultry products. There are still chickens, which are injected with hormone, growth stimulant, etc. This has seriously dampened the enthusiasm of the Chinese consumers on consumption of local poultry products. It is time for the Chinese poultry production and processing industry to tackle the issue," said Mr Chao Xu Ming, chairman of CFNA (China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products), during an interview.

 

Professor Luo Yunbo of China Agricultural University (College of Food Science and Engineering) said that the bird flu outbreak is a challenge, as well as, an opportunity to the industry. Consumers are becoming more concerned about food safety and health issue. This is an excellent opportunity for China's well-known poultry product brands and industry market leaders to take the lead in taking necessary actions. After many years of imports and exports of poultry products, China's poultry processing and production industry has established comprehensive production and quality systems that meet International standards.

 

China's Poultry Production Industry Needs to Confront with Change

 

According to official statistics, worldwide production of poultry and pork meat make up 25% and 39% respectively of global meat production. In contrast, China's poultry and pork meat production make up 14% and 56% respectively of total meat production in the country. This is 11% lower for poultry meat and 27% higher for pork meat production compare with global meat production composition.

 

Industry insiders revealed that the significant gap between poultry meat and pork production in China is mainly attributable to the disorderly development in the country's poultry production industry. In the Top 50 companies ranking of China Meat Association, there are only 8 poultry production companies ranked in the top 20s among the Chinese meat companies. The market share of these poultry production companies in China's meat industry is still relatively small, and none of them is a well-known brand in China.