In 2023, the British poultry meat industry made a remarkable gross value-added contribution of £8.5 billion to the UK’s GDP, highlighting its significant role in the national economy.
This contribution was generated not only directly by the industry, which accounted for £2.8 billion, but also through substantial expenditure on goods and services from its local supply chains and wage payments to employees in both the poultry sector and its supporting industries.
Since 2013, the poultry meat industry’s contribution to GDP has experienced a remarkable growth of approximately 31% in real terms, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 2.7%. This stands in sharp contrast to the broader UK economy’s growth of just 17% during the same period and showcases the poultry sector’s resilience and robust performance compared to the overall agricultural industry, which has grown by only 12% in real terms since 2013.
Over £10 Billion Turnover
According to a recently published report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the British Poultry Council, the poultry meat industry achieved a turnover of £10.3 billion in 2023. Notably, over a third (34%) of this revenue was derived from poultry farmers, while the remaining 66% was generated by poultry processors.
In the context of the broader agricultural sector, the poultry industry’s direct contributions are essential, registering as 26% of the £4.7 billion gross value added by all livestock producers and approximately 9% of the overall agricultural sector’s £13.7 billion output.
Massive Tax Contribution
When considering the full extent of economic activity stimulated by the poultry industry, researchers noted that it contributed approximately £1.9 billion in taxes to the UK Exchequer in 2023. This figure represents about one-third of the total public sector expenditure for services to agriculture, fisheries, and forestry within the 2022/23 financial year.
Employment Impact
On the employment front, the British poultry meat industry supported around 113,500 jobs across the UK in 2023. This total included 35,700 direct jobs within the industry, divided between 27,100 in processing and 8,600 in farming activities. Furthermore, for every 100 jobs created within the poultry sector, an additional 220 jobs were generated throughout the wider economy as a result of supply chain and wage-related impacts.
