In 2017, Peru was the Latin American country with the largest per capita consumption of chicken meat: 46.66 kg per head per year; followed by Argentina (44 kg), Bolivia (43 kg), Brazil and Panama (42 kg each country), according to WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies database.
Last year, Peru exceeded Argentina, which in 2016 had the largest per capita consumption per year of chicken meat (47 kg per head). That year, the top 5 was also composed by Peru (45.35 kg), Panama (41.31 kg), Brazil (41.1 kg) and Venezuela (37.32 kg).
Regarding egg per capita consumption per year, Mexico repeated as the greatest consumer in Latin America. This country experienced a slight decrease in egg consumption compared to 2016: from 387 eggs per person per year in 2016 to 374 eggs per person per year in 2017. Despite this drop in consumption, it remains as the world’s top egg consumer.
Behind Mexico was Argentina, with an egg per capita consumption per year of 280 eggs. The top 5 is completed by Colombia (279 eggs), Uruguay (272 eggs) and Costa Rica (218 eggs).
Looking at the 2016 figures, the same five countries were the largest egg per capita consumers in Latin America, but in a different order. Although Mexico took the lead, Uruguay ranked second (272 eggs), followed by Argentina (271 eggs), Colombia (263 eggs) and Costa Rica (206 eggs). As can be seen, Uruguay maintained its consumption, while Argentina, Colombia and Costa Rica had an increase.
Big drop in consumption in Venezuela
Although most of the 18 selected Latin American countries maintained or increased their per capita consumption of chicken meat and eggs from 2016 to 2017, there were some that experienced a decline, with Venezuela being the one that most reduced its figures.
The countries that reduced their per capita consumption of chicken meat per year were: Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay and Venezuela. The latter reduced its chicken meat consumption from 37.32 kg per person per year in 2016 — when it occupied the fifth position of consumption of this animal protein in Latin America — to 17.82 kg per person per year in 2017. This made Venezuela occupied the last place of poultry consumption in Latin America.
Meanwhile, the countries that reduced their egg per capita consumption per year were: El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay and Venezuela. In this case, Venezuelans went from consuming 188 eggs per person per year in 2016 to only 91 eggs in 2017, a fall of 97 units.
Bolivia multiplies its consumption
On the other hand, Bolivia stands out among the countries that increased consumption of chicken and eggs: it registered the greatest increase in both categories. Bolivians went from consuming 33 kg of chicken meat per person per year in 2016 to 43 kg in 2017. Similarly, egg consumption increased from 138 units per person per year in 2016 to 170 units in 2017. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Panama and Peru also recorded increases in chicken consumption, which demonstrates the strength of the poultry sector in Latin America.
