Organizers of the upcoming Saudi Poultry Show 2015 aim to encourage investment in production in the Kingdom to reduce its dependence on imports of poultry products.
Current estimates put investments in the Saudi poultry sector at around SAR65 billion (US$17.4 billion), according to the organizers of the upcoming Saudi Poultry Show 2015 in Riyadh. There is promising potential to expand by a further SAR62 billion (US$16.5 billion), according to organizers, Zoom Expo.
The poultry industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys significant support from the state to help address stiff competition from imported products. Loan and facilities are provided in order to realize food security in the Kingdom.
Chicken production by the country’s farmers covers around 42 percent of Saudi consumption, which is about 1,044 million metric tons. Demand is mainly met by imports. In 2013, Brazil provided Saudi Arabia with 79 percent of total poultry imports, followed by France with 18 percent and the U.S. with 3 percent. Domestic production of chicken amounted to 640 metric tons in 2014, 7 percent more than the previous year. In 2013, KSA was the world’s largest importer of chicken with total imports of 875,259 metric tons.
Poultry consumption in the Kingdom is among the world’s highest at 47 kilograms per person and year, while it ranks a global 3rd in poultry products consumption with 5 billion eggs and more than 950 million head of chicken per year. Annual sales of chicken products are valued at around SAR17 billion (US$4.5 billion).
Saudi Poultry Show 2015 will be held November 25- 27, 2015, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. Show organizers say that this is the only poultry sector exhibition in the Kingdom and offers the largest gathering of specialist suppliers in one place with the aim of highlighting the latest technology, techniques and products for this important sector.
