Jordan’s poultry sector is witnessing a sharp decline in profitability, driven by a significant rise in production costs alongside falling selling prices in the local market. This recent downturn is attributed to weakened consumer purchasing power, in addition to an oversupply of live and fresh poultry.
Engineer Rawan Abu Adi, Acting Director of the Specialized Union for Poultry Farmers, explained that poultry prices have dropped this year by 40% to 50% compared to last year. She attributed this decline to the expansion in production, higher volumes of hatching eggs, and improved health and production performance within farms, which collectively led to a substantial increase in supply. Abu Adi noted that current prices have reached unprecedented levels, with the price of fresh chicken ranging between 1.15 and 1.5 Jordanian dinars per kilogram, while chicken sold at live poultry shops ranges between 1 and 1.25 dinars per kilogram—prices that do not cover the actual cost of production.
She called on official authorities to take action to protect national investments in this vital sector, which is considered a key pillar of food security, white meat supply, and employment for thousands of families. She also stressed the importance of supporting exports to ease the pressure caused by surplus production, especially in light of the obstacles Jordanian companies face when exporting to certain Arab countries. Additionally, Abu Adi emphasized the need to tighten oversight of imported poultry used in processing, which is exempt from customs duties, warning of the risks of such products leaking into local markets and being sold directly to consumers.
She concluded by underscoring that achieving sustainability requires a balance between the interests of consumers and farmers. While lower prices may appear beneficial to consumers in the short term, continued selling below cost will force many farms out of the market, eventually leading to production shortages, sharp price increases, and a disruption of balance in the local market.
