Poultry Prices Rise as Production Costs Increase

Poultry prices have increased by twelve cents per pound for whole chicken, following an adjustment announced by the Belize Poultry Association (BPA). The new price took effect today. According to the manager of the association, Armando Cowo, the increase is linked to the continued rise in production costs, including higher prices for corn, soybean, fuel, and premixes, key inputs used in poultry production. Cowo says prices for other poultry products will also be adjusted, depending on the type of cut or processed product. The association maintains that the increase is necessary as producers continue to face higher operating expenses across the industry. Cowo discussed the reasons behind this latest adjustment and how producers are responding to the continued rise in production costs.

The latest adjustment adds to a series of poultry price increases recorded over the past 15 years, as producers continue to point to rising costs for imported feed ingredients and other operational expenses. Previous adjustments include a ten-cent increase in whole chicken prices in 2012, a six-cent increase in 2021, a 25-cent increase in 2022, and an average increase of ten cents per pound in 2023. With the six-cent increase implemented in March and this latest twelve-cent adjustment now in effect, consumers have seen multiple changes in poultry prices within the past year.