PARIS: A worldwide shortage of chickens is set to push the prices up, experts have warned. The UK imports 20% of its birds and could face a double whammy as the weak pound following Brexit will also squeeze family budgets.
According to an industry report, Chinese production has already dropped 5% and is likely to plunge by a further 15% next year. The shortage has been caused by the Chinese slashing the number of breeding birds imported from the UK, France and Netherlands following a bird flu outbreak last year.
And with a shortfall in the US and Brazil, Rabobank’s latest Poultry Quarterly report predicts the cost of a roast dinner will go up.
The Dutch financial institution is a food and sustainability specialist and it’s senior analyst Nan-Dirk Mulder said Brits will feel the pinch as “a global price rise is bound to push prices up in the UK eventually”.
