Poultry Consumption

IBISWorld expects that per capita poultry consumption will rise by 0.9% during 2025-26, to total 24.91 kilograms per capita. Poultry production is expected to increase during the year, placing downward pressure on prices and encouraging increased consumption. However, rising instances of vegetarianism and veganism, coupled with the persistence of high inflation in New Zealand, are forecast to constrain overall meat consumption, limiting growth in poultry consumption over the year. A farm in Otago witnessed a bird flu outbreak in December 2024. Although the spread was contained within the farm, future outbreaks of avian flu can impact poultry production, and hence consumption.

According to the OECD and the FAO’s Agricultural Outlook report, poultry is the most consumed meat in New Zealand, followed by seafood, pig meat, beef and veal, and sheep meat. Poultry has grown significantly in popularity since 1989-90, due to its relatively low-fat content when compared to red meats such as beef and lamb. In addition, the production of poultry meat has increased significantly over the same time period. Poultry production is easier to expand in scale than other forms of livestock, as it is relatively cheaper to do so and requires less space. Poultry production is also less affected by external factors like rainfall, which makes it an attractive prospect for farmers. Rising poultry production has limited growth in poultry prices, boosting poultry consumption over the past two decades.