Philippines’ chicken meat imports to rise in 2026 – USDA
Import bans lifted, stronger economy and food service demand push volumes higher
PHILIPPINES – Chicken imports into the Philippines are expected to grow next year as the country benefits from the removal of avian influenza-related restrictions and continued strength in consumer spending.
A report by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service projects that chicken shipments to the Philippines will reach about 560,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2026, up 1.8 percent from 550,000 MT this year.
According to the report, the forecast increase comes as temporary import bans linked to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are lifted, enabling more supply channels to reopen.
The USDA also pointed out that the growing list of foreign suppliers authorized to export poultry products to the Philippines is making it easier for importers to bring in larger volumes.
At the same time, domestic chicken production is forecast to climb by 7 percent to 1.81 million MT of ready-to-cook meat in 2026, compared to 1.69 million MT in the previous year.
The agency noted that improved biosecurity protocols and the rollout of vaccines against bird flu are supporting higher output levels across commercial farms.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration approved the commercial use of Volvac BEST AI plus ND, a vaccine developed by Germany-based pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.
USDA analysts added that this vaccination program, along with tighter farm management and the continuing shortage of pork due to African swine fever, is helping sustain the demand for chicken imports.
Rising Demand from Food Service Sector
The report further said that the ongoing expansion of restaurants and food delivery services is boosting overall consumption, encouraging both local producers and importers to scale up operations.
Between January and April 2025, the Philippines brought in 154.54 million MT of chicken, a 14.9 percent increase from the same period last year, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed.
By the end of May, chicken accounted for 32.6 percent of the 473.46 million kilograms of total meat imports.
The United States remained one of the country’s main poultry suppliers, shipping 43.36 million kilograms of chicken to the Philippines during the review period, representing 9.2 percent of the total.
The USDA said the upward trend in imports and production reflects the country’s steady economic recovery, which continues to drive food consumption and investment in poultry operations.
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