Chicken and egg consumption in the country has started rising significantly, and is likely to reach 70 percent of the pre-COVID level in the current quarter, companies and trade bodies said.
Demand Picking Up Since July
Demand had crashed when the epidemic began, forcing some poultry farmers to stop operations, but consumer demand started picking up from July and it will gather pace after the Navratras and with the onset of winters.
Farmers have started getting a much better price for chicken now. Earlier, prices had crashed as people had started avoiding poultry products when the pandemic began. The average weekly consumption of chicken in the country is 75 million birds of the average weight of 2 kg.
Industry sees poultry demand rebounding toward pre-COVID levels
Dining Out Returns; Chicken as Immunity Booster
Consumer confidence has increased and there is an increase in people dining out. Demand from hotels and restaurants had seen a major drop, which is now reviving. After COVID, consumers' perception of eating chicken has changed and they see it as an immunity booster. Consumption has reached 57% to 60% of pre-COVID time.
"We expect consumption to be back to about 70 percent in October to December and almost 90 percent by Jan-March 21."
— Industry representative
"There is improved consumption as several hotels and restaurants have come back in business due to home delivery options. The prices of chicken and eggs have also started going up due to this."
— Industry representative
"Consumption has reached 57 percent to 60 percent of the pre-COVID time and we are confident that it will reach over 70 percent in the next quarter."
— Industry representative
Ex-Farm Prices, Egg Crates & Reopening Farms
October onwards ex-farm prices can further increase by 15 percent over September prices in eggs and chicken. The industry is coming back and poultry farms which were shut down in April-May are again starting operations. A crate of 30 eggs is currently being sold at Rs 140 — a 75 percent increase from its bottom prices in March-April.
"The industry is coming back and poultry farms which were shut down in April-May are again starting operations. A crate of 30 eggs is currently being sold at Rs 140 which is a 75 percent increase from its bottom prices in March-April. We can expect another 30 percent increase in the next quarter."
— Harish Juneja, former Chairman for Delhi zone, NECC