Steady increase in demand for chicken and eggs in Canada

Total poultry sales in Canada increased in 2022 by 14% from 2021 to CAN$4.2 billion (US$3.1 billion) with poultry farmers in the country producing 1.5 billion kilogrammes of chicken, turkey and stewing hens. Egg production increased by 2.2% from 847.9 million dozen eggs in 2021 to 866.5 million dozen in 2022.

Last year, the production of chicken, including stewing hens, increased by 2.8% from 2021. In total, poultry farmers produced 1.37 billion kilogrammes of chicken, which accounted for 90.1% of total poultry production in Canada.

However, due to restrictions on imports of live birds, bird products and by-products in response to the avian influenza outbreak, in 2022, imports of live birds into Canada decreased 21% from 2021 to 8.6 million kilogrammes.

Turkey production saw its 6th consecutive annual drop, declining 0.1% from 2021 to 150.2 million kilogrammes in 2022.

Ontario accounted for over 1-third (478.4 million kg) of the chicken produced in Canada, while Quebec accounted for over a quarter (358.5 million kg). Meanwhile, Ontario and Quebec remained the top turkey-producing provinces. Ontario produced 47.5% (71.4 million kg) of Canada’s turkey, while Quebec 19.7% (29.6 million kg).

In 2022, egg sales in the country increased by 14.9% from 2021 to CAN$2.1 billion (US$1.56 billion). It is interesting to note that in 2022, the monthly average egg farm-gate price ranged from 186.2 cents to 216.4 cents per dozen, while in 2021, the average price ranged from 167.7 cents to 186.4 cents per dozen.