FINLAND -Atria, a leading Finnish meat producer, has appreciated the Finno-Chinese agreement on quarantine and veterinary requirements for poultry meat, paving the way for Finnish poultry exports to China.
Markku Hirvijarvi, Senior Vice President of Atria, highlighted the significance of this agreement not only for Atria but also for the entire Finnish food industry.
“The Chinese market is really important to Atria, and we are looking forward to starting export chicken meat from Atria to China as soon as possible,” Hirvijarvi said.
The recent agreement, signed in Beijing by Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah and Wang Lingjun, deputy director of China’s General Administration of Customs, outlined the terms for poultry exports to China and promotes cooperation on food safety.
Poultry consumption is on the rise in Finland and globally, making this development a valuable opportunity for Atria.
The company had previously become the first Finnish company to obtain a pork export permit to the Chinese market in 2016, establishing itself as a key player in this important export market.
Atria operates not only in Finland but also in Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia, making it one of the leading food companies in the Nordic countries and the Baltic region.
According to the company’s report, Atria produces approximately 170 million kg of meat annually in Finland, with products exported to over 30 countries and regions worldwide.
In addition, a recent USDA-FAS GAIN report suggested that poultry production in China is expected to remain stable at 14.3 million metric tons in 2023.
The report anticipates an increase in the share of white feather broilers in overall chicken production, while yellow feather broiler production is expected to decline. Import rates are predicted to reach 750 thousand metric tons in 2023, and exports are expected to increase by 5% to 575 thousand metric tons as demand resumes in both mature and new markets.
However, a USDA report indicates that chicken meat production in China is forecasted to decline in 2024, primarily due to import constraints related to avian genetics and materials for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has imposed restrictions on avian genetics and related materials, impacting both white broiler and yellow broiler production.
Live poultry market closures also contribute to the decline in yellow broiler production.
Both white and yellow chicken consumption in China is expected to decrease in 2024. White broiler consumption is affected by domestic supply constraints and HPAI-related restrictions on chicken meat imports. Yellow broiler consumption is anticipated to decline due to the closures of live poultry markets.
To meet the supply gap in domestic chicken production, China is expected to increase chicken imports by 3% in 2024, reaching 770 thousand metric tons. Chicken exports from China are projected to remain at similar levels in 2024.
