In recent years, chicken meat has been at the top of Romanians' preferences, with statistical data confirming this, considering the increase in production to a level of 723,000 tonness in 2023, and the average consumption of 28.2 kilograms/inhabitant/year.
"From the point of view of the food model, it is clear that the Romanian consumer's preference is pork. In second place is poultry, in third place is beef and in fourth place is sheep. If we look at the statistical data on meat produced in Romania last year by species, we will find that 51% of all meat is poultry. Normally it should have been pork, but as we know, we have been facing those problems related to African Swine Fever," the president of the Union of Romanian Poultry Breeders (UCPR), Ilie Van, told AGERPRES on Tuesday.
From the point of view of the average consumption of poultry meat, a slight increase was noticed from 27.5 kilograms/inhabitant in 2022, to 28.2 kilograms last year.
Regarding egg consumption, the annual average in Romania is 245-250 eggs per capita, while the European average is slightly lower, at 230-235 eggs per capita.
According to the same source, the poultry industry in Romania currently produces more than twice as much as it did before '89, with a growth trend still existing, although at a less accelerated rate.
In his opinion, the production of meat and eggs obtained in the poultry industry is sufficient to ensure domestic consumption and export.
He also explained that the poultry industry in Romania benefited from many investments from three sources of financing: European funds, own funds from the companies' profits and attracted funds.
UCPR is a professional, non-governmental association, built on the specific criterion of the poultry branch activity. Of the 219 poultry holdings at the national level, 180 are UCPR members, and a holding can have several farms, either for raising chickens or for raising hens for eggs.