
Synopsis:
•Urbanisation and growing earnings have led to tremendous growth in India, which is a prominent producer of eggs and grill chicken. With an annual output of more than 140 billion eggs and over 4.5 million tonnes of grill meat
•India is one among the world’s leading producers of both as of 2024. Key players’ revenue peaked in 2022 but fell in 2023 and 2024 as a result of shifting market dynamics and growing input prices. The two main feed inputs, maize and soybean, had price spikes in 2024 as a result of supply problems, but they have since steadied thanks to better harvests and government initiatives.
•Due to overstock, grill meat prices declined after reaching a peak in early FY2024. It is anticipated that seasonal increases in demand will stabilise prices.
- According to CareEdge Ratings, the rising population’s shifting dietary preferences towards foods high in protein and the softening of input costs will fuel an 8–10% increase in revenue in FY2025, along with a 180–220 basis point improvement in operating profit margins.
- The poultry sector is still vulnerable to feed price fluctuations and disease outbreaks, thus industry participants are concentrating on creating breeds with lower FCRs and greater disease resistance as well as new vaccinations for poultry.
A Summary of the Poultry Sector
The chicken business in India is a rapidly expanding segment of the agricultural economy that offers the country reasonably priced, premium protein. Breeding and genetic selection are the first steps in the poultry value chain, producing birds that are best suited for producing eggs or meat. At hatcheries, fertilised eggs from parent stocks develop into day-old chicks. These chicks, which are grown on farms using nutrient-balanced diet, mature into broiler or layer market weight. While eggs are cleaned, graded, and packed, broilers are turned into meat products. Distribution is managed through wholesalers, retailers, and direct channels, with cold storage preserving quality.
Sturdy Increase in Meat and Egg Production
Over the last 10 years, India’s chicken sector has continuously expanded its output of eggs and meat, underscoring its growing significance in supplying the nation’s protein needs. The need for protein has historically been driven by the food and beverage industry, with 31-34% of that demand coming from meat, poultry, and fish. Given the growing need for reasonably priced protein, egg output is predicted to increase by 7-8% in the near future. The output of beef is also expected to rise by 5–6%, suggesting a rebound from earlier setbacks. This demand, which is consistent with past growth trends and points to future expansion, is influenced by improved feed availability, a need for diets high in protein, and changes in consumer tastes throughout holiday seasons.