91¶¶Òù

91¶¶Òù expects per capita poultry consumption to rise by 2.9% during 2026-27, to 26.17 kilograms per capita. Poultry production is expected to climb this year, putting downwards pressure on prices and encouraging higher consumption. Persistently elevated inflation in New Zealand, amid recent global geopolitical conflicts, is set to drive substitution towards chicken consumption as a relatively lower-cost protein, underscoring its price advantage. However, rising instances of vegetarianism and veganism are forecast to constrain overall meat consumption, limiting growth in poultry consumption over the year. 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 compared to red meats like beef and lamb, as well as its comparative affordability. At the same time, poultry consumption has also been supported by demand from fast-food restaurants and hospitality establishments, which can operate with wider margins than beef or lamb products. In addition, domestic poultry meat production has increased significantly over the same period. Poultry production is easier to scale up than other livestock, as it is relatively inexpensive, requires less space and has a shorter production cycle. Poultry production is also less affected by external factors like pasture quality and rainfall, which makes it an attractive prospect for farmers. Rising poultry production has limited price increases, boosting poultry consumption over the past two decades.Over the past five years, poultry consumption has moderately increased. Poultry production has increased over the period, except for declines driven by supply constraints during the pandemic, which have limited price increases. Poultry's low price compared with red meats like beef and lamb has also supported growth in its consumption, particularly amid periods with cost-of-living pressures. In addition, rising health consciousness has boosted demand for poultry, as chicken and other poultry products are perceived as a leaner source of protein than red meats like beef or lamb. However, the rising uptake of vegetarianism and veganism has subdued this growth. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts poultry consumption to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.2% over the five years through 2026-27.