Of that global spending metric, $21.5 billion (71.8%) was for imported frozen poultry meat. In comparison, $8.45 billion (28.2%) encompasses international spending on imports of fresh or chilled chicken.
The value of globally imported frozen chicken increased by an average 30.4% since five years earlier in 2019 when frozen chicken meat shipments were valued at $16.5 billion. From 2022 to 2023, imports of frozen poultry fell by -7.6%.
On the other hand, imports of fresh or chilled chicken increased at a slower pace (up 21% compared to $7.1 billion during 2019) and flatlined via a tepid 1.2% year-over-year gain.
Geographic Insights for Imported Poultry
From a continental perspective, buyers in Asia bought 61.5% of frozen chicken imports but just 4.7% of imported fresh or chilled chicken. In contrast, importers in geographically concentrated Europe bought 84.1% of all imported fresh or chilled chicken compared to 19% of frozen chicken imports. North American buyers imported 10.1% of the global subtotal for fresh or chilled chicken and 3.6% for frozen poultry meat.
African importers generated 8.3% of international frozen chicken purchases versus 0.8% of fresh or chilled poultry. For Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, the percentages are 6.8% for frozen chicken versus 0.28% for the fresh classifications.
Another smaller continental player for importing chicken is distant Oceania including Papua New Guinea at 0.8% for frozen product compared to a miniscule 0.07% for fresh or chilled poultry.
For research purposes, the six-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code prefixes are 020711 for whole fresh or chilled chicken, 020713 for fresh or chilled chicken cuts and offal, 020712 for whole frozen chicken and 020714 for frozen chicken cuts and offal.
Chicken Imports by Country: Fresh
Below are the 15 buyer countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of fresh or chilled chicken during 2023, encompassing both whole chicken and cut pieces.
- United Kingdom: US$1.4 billion (16.4% of imported fresh/chilled chicken)
- France: $1.3 billion (15.1%)
- Germany: $1.2 billion (13.8%)
- Netherlands: $844.7 million (10%)
- Mexico: $471 million (5.6%)
- Belgium: $386.6 million (4.6%)
- Canada: $310.5 million (3.7%)
- Hong Kong: $230.1 million (2.7%)
- Czech Republic: $197.7 million (2.3%)
- Slovakia: $194.3 million (2.3%)
- Ireland: $181.1 million (2.1%)
- Austria: $166.7 million (2%)
- Hungary: $135.5 million (1.6%)
- Italy: $119.5 million (1.4%)
- Spain: $115.2 million (1.4%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing importers fresh/chilled chicken since 2019 were: Spain (up 167.9%), Italy (up 105.4%), Hungary (up 84.5%) and France (up 78.9%).
Mexico was the lone decliner in imported fresh/chilled chicken purchases, recording a -1.2% reduction.
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 85% of all fresh/chilled chicken imported in 2023.
Top Chicken Imports by Country: Frozen
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of frozen chicken during 2023.
- mainland China: US$4.1 billion (19.2% of imported frozen chicken)
- Japan: $1.4 billion (6.4%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1.1 billion (5.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $995.4 million (4.6%)
- Iraq: $876.4 million (4.1%)
- Netherlands: $756.2 million (3.5%)
- South Korea: $522.8 million (2.4%)
- Mexico: $476.9 million (2.2%)
- France: $465.6 million (2.2%)
- Philippines: $459.4 million (2.1%)
- Malaysia: $456.5 million (2.1%)
- Germany: $401.6 million (1.9%)
- Hong Kong: $351.3 million (1.6%)
- United Kingdom: $331 million (1.5%)
- Singapore: $328.2 million (1.5%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing importers of frozen chicken since 2019 were: Malaysia (up 188.5%), Netherlands (up 123%), mainland China (up 109.3%) and Mexico (up 105.8%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported frozen chicken purchases were led by: Hong Kong (down -62.8%), United Kingdom (down -41.3%), Saudi Arabia (down -13.6%) and Japan (down 10.3%).
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 60.8% of all frozen chicken imported in 2023.
Note that buyers in the United States of America failed to make the above list, although American purchases of frozen chicken increased by 3.3% to $180.7 million in 2023 compared to $174.8 million for 2019.
See also Chicken Exports by Country, Fresh or Frozen Beef Imports by Country, Pork Exports by Country and Goat Meat Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on August 22, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 22, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 22, 2024