In the country during 2018, foreign sales of fertile eggs, whose main destination is Central America, reached $6.9 million, 32% more than what was reported in 2017.
Figures from the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (Anavip) detail that between 2017 and 2018, exports increased by $1.7 million, going from $5.2 million to $6.9 million.
The poultry farmers' union reports that in 2018 the gross value produced by the poultry sector, which includes chicken meat and eggs, totaled $390 million, 2% more than in the previous year.
Figures from the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (Anavip) detail that last year the production of chicken meat was 110 million birds, while egg production totaled 704 million units.
In the Dominican Republic, outbreaks of avian influenza were reported in the localities of Corozo and Quebrada Honda, in the province of Espaillat.
The Dominican Ministry of Agriculture reported that the outbreak of the disease was caused by the A H5N2 virus, and that it has initiated actions to neutralize the virus's advance in the country.
During the last year, 70% of imports of poultry for fattening, poultry for breeding and processed meat were made by companies in Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua.
From the "Poultry Market in Central America" report, developed by the Trade Intelligence Department of CentralAmericaData:
The union of agricultural producers claims that the government has granted an excessive amount of import permits for laying hens, and because of that they project an oversupply of eggs in the local market.
Dominican producers estimate that import permits recently granted by the Ministry of Agriculture will lead to an "... increase of more than more than 1.2 billion eggs in three years, equivalent to 49% of current production."
Figures from the Panamanian aviculturists union indicate that exports registered during 2017 exceeded those reported the previous year by 25%.
The National Association of Aviculturists details that exports of fertile eggs, mainly to countries in Central America, exceeded $5 million last year, about $1 million more than in 2016.
In 2017 the contribution of the poultry sector to the Panamanian economy amounted to $373 million, which represents an increase of 26% compared to the figure registered in 2016.
According to data from the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (Anavip), in relation to 2016, last year egg production grew by 8% and chicken meat by 4%, and the activity was concentrated mainly in the provinces of Western Panama, Veraguas, Coclé, Colón, Los Santos and Chiriqui.
The farm Acre Farms has voluntarily withdrawn more than 200 million eggs, due to the possible contamination of the product with the bacterium Salmonella braenderup.
From a statement issued by the Panamanian Food Safety Authority:
April 16, 2018.Through this communication, the Panamanian Food Safety Authority wishes to make known that eggs from the farm Rose Acre Farms, withdrawn from the US market, are not registered with the Authority, therefore they can not enter the country.
Currently the poultry industry has about 5.5 million birds for commercial supply and 14 million broilers, and this year they project growth of 4%.
Regarding the data on the sector, Marco Antonio Baquedano, coordinator of the National Poultry Program at the National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA), told Latribuna.hn that "...
Between 8% and 10% is the rate of growth in egg production this year estimated by the association of poultry farmers.
Data from the National Association of Poultry Farmers and Food Producers (Anapa), indicate that this year an average daily production of 79,452 boxes of eggs has been reached, above the 60 thousand produced last year.
Last year the estimated national production exceeded 639 million eggs, representing an increase of almost 10% compared to the figure registered in 2015.
Figures from the National Institute of Statistics show that egg production increased by slightly more than 2 million units between 2015 and 2016, also reflecting an increase in consumption of the product.
The producers' association reports a 130% growth in the per capita consumption in the last ten years, increasing from 60 units in 2007 to 138 units this year.
The figures indicate that "... annual egg consumption per capita grew by 130% between 2007 and 2017, going from 60 to 138 units. Domestic production also increased, as in 2013 there were 50,000 boxes per day, but this year the figure grew to 74,000."
The plant that Industrial Group El Granjero started operating in Masaya has the capacity to process 18 thousand liters of pasteurized eggs per day.
The plant has an area of 21,600 square meters and can process 396 thousand eggs per day. For the first year of operation representatives of Grupo El Farmer Industrial project exporting $14 million worth of egg products.
The Panamanian producers' association reports that last year 104 million chickens were slaughtered and total egg production amounted to 654 million.
Figures from the National Poultry Association of Panama (Anavip)indicate an increase not only in poultry production but also in consumption.According to the National Poultry Activity Performance Index 2016,"... per capita chicken meat consumption stood at 90 lbs (41 kg), increasing by 3 lbs per person between 2015 and last year."
Using the processing plant that Grupo Industrial El Granjero is building in Masaya, $14 million worth whole eggs, whites and yolks, are planned to be exported in the first year of operation.
The 3,000-square-meter plant, located in the Zona Franca Industrial Zone El Granjero, has the capacity to produce more than 400 tons during its first year of operation, according statements made to Elnuevodiario.com.ni by company representatives.