Rising prices, declining exports – the Hungarian poultry sector shows a mixed picture

According to the data of the AKI Market Price Information System (PÁIR), the live weight producer price of broiler chickens increased by 7.2 percent in 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year, while that of broiler turkeys increased by 8.3 percent. The processing price of chicken breast fillet is 2000.9 forints/kg, which represents a 14.5 percent increase, and the price of bone-in chicken breast is 1268.1 forints/kg, an increase of 9.4 percent. The average price of a chicken leg of 916.8 forints was 3.7 percent higher than a year earlier.

Exports decreased, imports fell

According to data from the Central Statistical Office, Hungary’s poultry meat exports fell by 3 percent, to 121 thousand tons in the first seven months of 2025, while imports fell by 34 percent. The structure of exports has been rearranged: chicken meat exports increased by 9 percent (92 thousand tons), while turkey meat exports decreased by 6 percent (13 thousand tons).

The largest target market for Hungarian poultry meat continues to be Romania, while the majority of imports came from Poland. The decrease in imports was particularly spectacular in the turkey segment: imports fell by 41 percent, to 1.8 thousand tons.

Waterfowl crisis in production

According to the slaughter statistics of the Hungarian Poultry Association, 413.5 thousand tons of poultry were slaughtered in Hungary in live weight in the first seven months of 2025, which is 3.6 percent less than a year earlier. Within this, the volume of chickens for slaughter increased by 7.2 percent (328.2 thousand tons), turkeys for slaughter increased by 2.8 percent (41.8 thousand tons), while the production of ducks for slaughter decreased by 52.9 percent (to 32.3 thousand tons), and that of gooses for slaughter decreased by 16.3 percent (to 7.9 thousand tons).

The waterfowl sector has been hit by several factors in recent years: in addition to animal health risks, market uncertainties and global price competition made the situation more difficult.

Chicken’s position is further strengthened

The focus of poultry production is increasingly shifting to the chicken sector, where efficient production technologies and export-oriented processing strengthen the stability of the sector. However, rising prices are increasing consumer spending, while feed and energy prices continue to pose a significant cost burden for producers.

According to experts, the poultry sector may remain on a moderate growth path in the short term, but rebuilding waterfowl production will require strategic support programs and market diversification.