05 Mar 2026

West Asia tensions unlikely to derail India’s poultry growth

Exports face short-term disruption, but the local poultry industry, valued at USD 30 billion, remains resilient thanks to strong domestic fundamentals.

A. Ashraf Ali

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The ongoing volatility in West Asia is expected to cause short-term export disruptions. However, it is unlikely to significantly impact the overall growth path of India’s poultry sector, according to Ricky Thaper, Joint Secretary, Poultry Federation of India.

“While the volatile situation in West Asia may have some impact on poultry product exports to Middle East countries, domestic demand remains robust and continues to drive industry growth,” he said.

Ricky Thaper

India exported poultry products worth USD 168.77 million in 2024-25, totaling about 10.34 lakh tons. Key destinations included Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Maldives, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This fiscal year, demand has been particularly strong from the UAE and Oman.

Exports a small share of industry value

Despite this exposure, exports represent only a small fraction of India’s poultry industry. This limits the broader economic impact of geopolitical disruptions in West Asia.

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India’s poultry sector is valued at approximately USD 30 billion and provides employment to nearly 6 million people. Growth is driven by steady increases in egg and broiler meat consumption, with annual expansion averaging 7-8% in recent years.

Strong domestic fundamentals

Currently, annual broiler placements stand at 5.5 billion birds, while layer placements total around 350 million. India also maintains an estimated 40 million backyard poultry population.

The country is the world’s second-largest egg producer, with annual output reaching 142.6 billion eggs. Industry stakeholders remain confident that strong domestic consumption will cushion the sector from external shocks, ensuring continued expansion despite temporary export headwinds.

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