After the successful opening of the Bahamas market for Ecuadorian chicken meat, the poultry sector foresees new destinations for its production. The Peruvian market is currently in the process of opening, and the sector has requested that priority be given to markets with Tonga in Oceania, as well as Saint Lucia and Dominica in the Caribbean, as revealed by the Agency for Phytosanitary Regulation and Control. (Agrocalidad).

The first foray of Ecuadorian chicken meat abroad began last May when Avícola San Isidro (Avisid) exported its first shipment of 28 tons to the Bahamas, then consolidated with exports of 28 tons per week until the end of 2023, the date by which Ecuador would market exported a total of 1.5 million pounds, which represents about 680 tons.

Ecuador ends 2023 with 1.5 million pounds of chicken meat exported to the Bahamas

According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, in Ecuador, the poultry sector produces approximately 480 thousand tons of chicken meat and 3.507 million eggs every year, and creates about 300 thousand direct jobs throughout the country. It is estimated that by 2031, poultry meat production will increase by 55%.

Chicken production at the national level is concentrated in the provinces of Guayas with 22%; Pichincha 16%, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas 14%, El Oro 10%, Manabí 9% and Imbabura with 6%.

Patricio Almeida, CEO of Agrocalidado, highlighted the control of bird flu that was discovered at the end of 2022 on farms in Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, Pichincha and other provinces. “In order to maintain the economic development of the poultry sector, vaccination against bird flu was necessary. To date, 14.2 million birds have been vaccinated with the first dose,” Almeida pointed out.