The Indian poultry industry has seen strong growth over the last decade driven by increased domestic consumption. Broiler meat production has increased from less than 1 million tons in 2000 to 3.4 million tons in 2012, while egg production has risen from 30 billion to 66 billion over the same period. However, 2012 was a difficult year for the industry due to high feed costs and oversupply issues affecting profitability. Coordinated efforts to control supply are expected to improve profitability in 2013. Long term growth remains favorable due to growing incomes and changing diets in India, but high feed prices and lack of infrastructure pose challenges.

1. Indian Poultry Industry – Broiler Meat and Table Egg
Long term industry volume growth prospects continue to remain favorable though high feed prices and volatile
realizations resulted in depressed profitability in 2012; Improved profitability expectations in 2013 on back of coordinated efforts to control supply
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October 2012
Corporate Ratings
Anjan Deb Ghosh
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Ravi Kabra
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2. Summary
Indian poultry sector has been growing at around 8-10% annually over the last decade with broiler meat volumes growing at more than 10% while table egg at
5-6% driven by increased domestic consumption. The production capacity has responded with increased integration and large scale implementation of contract
poultry farming. Farmers in India have moved from rearing country birds in the past to rearing hybrids which ensure faster growth of chicks, higher eggs per
bird, increased hatchability, low mortality rates, excellent feed conversion and consequently sustainable profits to the poultry farmers. The industry has been
supported by indigenous advancements in genetic capabilities, veterinary health, poultry feed, poultry equipment, and poultry processing sectors. The
productivity gains of poultry industry are reflected in relatively lower price increases in poultry meat over last five years compared to other meat products Poultry WPI (wholesale price index) has grown at 12% y-o-y over 2008-2013 as against 21% for overall meat products basket – providing an affordable
alternative for meeting protein requirements in Indian diet.
Domestic poultry meat production (broiler - carcass weight) is estimated to have increased from less than 1.0 million tons in 2000 to 3.4 million tons in 2012
with per capita consumption increasing from 0.8 kg to 2.8 kg p.a during same period. Table egg production is estimated to have increased from 30 billion eggs
in 2000 to 66 billion eggs in 2012 with per capita egg consumption increasing from 28 to 55 eggs during that period. The healthy growth in poultry output over
last decade makes India one of the fastest growing major world market in the segment with future growth potential remaining strong on back of wide gap
against global per capital consumption norms and favorable socio economic factors.
CY 2012, particularly second half, was a tough year for the industry on back of considerable increase in production costs with feed ingredients (Maize and
Soymeal) touching record highs and realizations suffering on back of oversupply in industry. For instance average production costs for a typical commercial
broiler farm which was in the range of Rs. 45-50/kg in 2011 increased to more than Rs. 62-65/kg in H2CY2012 (moderating slightly since new maize/soya crop
arrival) while broiler realization growth remaining muted. To make things worse, broiler realizations nosedived in last quarter of 2012 on back of oversupply
and sporadic instances of ‘bird flu’ in certain geographies. Strong 2010 and 2011 had resulted in sizeable investments in capacity expansion especially in broiler
segment and same resulted in oversupply. This significantly affected profitability of poultry farms and integrators in 2012 with all the poultry players recording
losses in broiler business in second half of 2012 and shutting down of sizeable number of independent poultry farms.
The efforts of key integrators in poultry industry to control supply through measures like ‘hatching holidays’ initiated towards fag end of 2012 has resulted in
improved realizations in 2013 and industry is expected to register much better profitability compared to last calendar year. The deliberate attempts to control
supply will result in lower volumes (in terms of broiler chick placements) though industry is projected to register healthy growth in value terms. The continued
industry wide co-ordination will be critical to maintain sustainable margins in the business considering increased production costs and seasonal volatility
associated with the poultry products though long term solution lies in developing processed chicken industry with value added offerings to protect against
regional and seasonal variations in prices.
Large integrators as well as Government bodies are investing and promoting increased processing of poultry products (in form of frozen/chilled chicken and
further processing in form of ready to cook/eat) given increased acceptability of processed chicken in domestic market though 92-93% of domestic purchases
are still through wet market due to traditional preferences. Increasing penetration of QSRs (Quick Service Restaurants), continued increase in proportion of
working women, changing lifestyles with preference towards convenience food and higher purchasing power are expected to provide strong growth push for
processed poultry industry in long term.
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May 2013

3. ICRA expect domestic broiler meat demand to continue to grow at 8-10% and table egg demand to grow at 4-5% in long term on back of favourable socio
economic factors like rising purchasing power, changing food habits, and increasing urbanization. Key challenges faced by industry include high feed costs,
inadequate cold chain and transportation infrastructure, high vulnerability to disease outbreaks and highly volatile realizations affecting cash flows. Transition
from a predominantly live bird/wet market to a chilled/frozen market is crucial for the future expansion of domestic poultry industry as well as to increase
presence in international trade where India has negligible presence. Developing efficient distribution system with large investments required in cold chain
infrastructure and increasing market acceptability of frozen chicken are going to be the key industry drivers in long term.
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