Angola moves to expand poultry production to reduce chicken imports
Domestic production is rising but still covers only a small share of national demand.
ANGOLA – Angola is increasing investment and policy focus on its poultry industry as authorities seek to reduce the country’s reliance on imported chicken, which continues to consume large amounts of foreign currency each year.
According to Minister of Industry and Trade Rui Miguêns de Oliveira, Angola spends about US$850,000 daily on chicken imports to meet domestic consumption, a level of expenditure that officials say highlights the scale of the country’s dependence on external supply.
Recent trade figures illustrate the magnitude of the issue: Angola imported roughly 228,000 tonnes of chicken in 2025, valued at more than US$312 million, even though the volume declined by 18.64% compared with 2024.
Officials say the funds currently used to purchase poultry from abroad could instead support domestic agricultural production, rural employment, and agribusiness development if redirected toward local industry expansion.
Domestic production growth
Although imports remain dominant in the market, Angola’s poultry output has expanded in recent years, rising from approximately 28,000 tonnes in 2019 to nearly 63,000 tonnes by 2025.
Despite that progress, local supply still falls far short of the country’s estimated annual demand for chicken, which ranges between 300,000 and 360,000 tonnes.
Feed availability remains a key factor influencing poultry production levels, particularly corn, which forms the main component of poultry feed formulations.
Angola’s corn harvest has also grown during the same period, with national production rising from about 2.8 million tonnes in 2019 to around 3.5 million tonnes in 2025.
Government officials say this expansion in crop production indicates that Angola has the agricultural capacity to sustain further development of the poultry sector if investment and technical support continue.
Financing and infrastructure challenges
Even with the sector’s growth, producers continue to face obstacles that limit faster expansion, including difficulties accessing financing for farm construction, hatcheries, feed mills, and cold storage facilities.
Farmers also require working capital to purchase chicks, feed, vaccines, and equipment, yet many lenders remain cautious about agricultural loans due to perceived risks associated with biological production cycles.
Infrastructure gaps add further pressure, as reliable electricity and water supplies remain essential for operating modern poultry farms and processing plants.
Authorities say the sector also requires trained personnel, including technicians and farm managers, to maintain efficient operations and ensure compliance with animal health standards.
The government has included poultry production in its 2023 to 2027 National Development Plan as part of a broader effort to increase domestic food production and reduce vulnerability to global supply disruptions.
In addition, policymakers have introduced tariff and non-tariff measures affecting certain poultry imports while offering support programs to encourage local investment in the industry.
Officials say the long-term objective is to develop a competitive poultry sector capable of supplying the domestic market and eventually exporting products to neighbouring countries.
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