Chicken Market Update- Week of 3/26

· The poultry market is steady and stable for this time of year.

· Normally during Lent season the market can be somewhat volatile, because of slack demand. Cutbacks have helped the situation with lack of supply with the lack of demand.

· Tenders and wings are still tight and wanted.

· Thigh meat is also just as tight from the supply side, but increased pricing has temporarily slowed the demand side. With continued tight supplies, when demand returns, there should be more upside on pricing.

· This is the week of the two’s, so breast meat has lagged some, but pricing seems still fairly stable.

· After Easter, demand should start to increase, higher than normal temperatures (this time of the year) in the SE, NE and Midwest states should spark the BBQ season and help poultry demand.

Chicken Market Update- Week of 3/19

Market Update

· Wings and Tenders are currently nonexistent. A little panic buying is going on right now, but there are a few items which are very hard to find.

· March Madness is helping wings, but should subside over next few weeks. Also, some out front buying is putting pressure on wings.

· Processors are grabbing all tenders.

· Thigh meat is the next item which is becoming scarce, and I mean scarce. If this is an indication for forward months, we all are in big trouble. All dark meat….. bnls and bone in is tight. Expect retailers to feature these items heavily after Easter.

· Breast meat is the only item with a little excess inventory this week, but with the weather improving back east and Easter and Lent season approaching, supplies should tighten up, big time.

· Forecast for poultry remains bullish for this summer, demand should heat up.

Poultry Market Update for the week of 11/28

· Boring…would be a good description for this week’s poultry market. Turkey is still on the brain for this week’s features, and no one seems to care about next retail needs.

· Most poultry producers are working a shorten week this week, either 3 or 4 work days, but demand is also mixed.

· Market fairly steady this week, except wings still going nuts.

· Dark meat has tightened up, especially thigh meat. Availability on fresh thigh meat is very tight and freezer stocks have dried up.

· Tenders and wings are still the hot, hot items with limited quantities.

· Overall the poultry situation has stabilized and is expected to advance in December. More cut backs will limit supplies and demand should increase for the holidays.

Special Chicken Market Update

• It looks like current cut backs in poultry market are…..finally…taking hold. Usually this time of the year the poultry market struggles with demand as turkeys take away the chicken features….but, supply chain is cranked down so much, there are NO excess supplies.
  
• As we get closer to first of the month of December, demand should really pick up for all poultry items, front and back half of the bird.
  
• I would strongly recommend beefing up inventories on tenders to 3-4 weeks, breast meat should start to move too- you still may have some in stock (good time to average).
• Thigh meat is at bottom. December is one of the best months for fresh sales, so frozen will dry up, maybe 3-4 weeks supply there.
  
• Bone in breast should follow soon.
  
• Wings are still the hottest item.

Poultry Market Update for the week of 9/12

Market update

· Like the Oregon Duck football team, boneless breast meat has laid an egg! The Labor Day Holiday and mixed demand has not helped the supply chain.

· Still seeing some excess breast meat this week!? The holiday has really messed things up. On top of it, I think some companies are working this Saturday? STUPID!!!!!!!! This should be a time to shorten up on production, but NO! the greed hasn’t changed! This industry needs some discipline, badly!

· Corn still trading at $7.50 and above through September 2012….that is challenging still for the next 12 months. Should definitely be more bankruptcies right around the corner.

· Everything else seems fairly steady, wings are the hot item right now, but also thigh meat seems tight? No upside, but supplies are limited.