Norway Fears Chicken Crisis Could Last All Year

Norway's domestic chicken meat supply is facing a crisis, with current estimates suggesting import needs will double from earlier projections. The nation is grappling with a significant shortage that is expected to last through the end of the year.

The crisis stems from a salmonella outbreak that has severely impacted the availability of hatching eggs and young chickens. This has crippled the domestic industry's ability to meet consumer demand, forcing a reliance on imports.

Initially, authorities estimated an import need of two to three and a half tons of chicken meat. However, recent assessments by the Directorate of Agriculture, based on market feedback, have significantly raised this figure. The deficit is now projected to be 5 percent of the market demand, translating to 5,000–6,000 tons.

This substantial increase in import requirements could lead to a new record for chicken meat imports. Last year, Norway imported 1,074 tons, a figure that is likely to be dwarfed by the current year's needs. The situation highlights the vulnerability of the domestic supply chain to disease outbreaks.

“

Based on contact with market actors, we estimate the deficit to be 5 percent of market demand, corresponding to 5,000–6,000 tons. The deficit situation is expected to persist through the end of the year.