Several new and old players in the Indian poultry sector are investing in processing plants as they want to tap into the growing demand for chicken in India. Asian Agribiz talks to Alok Raj, Principal Consultant at Aptec Technology Consulting on growth in the industry and what pitfalls many must look out for when investing in processing.

In this podcast, you will learn:
• The trend in poultry processing in India
• Automation in processing
• The challenges in starting a poultry processing plant in India
• What the future of Indian processing looks like

Good news for Asian poultry markets keeps rolling in. In last week’s In Focus podcast, we heard Arief Fachrudin talk about the 30% growth projected for South and Southeast Asian poultry markets. This week, the Rabobank Poultry Quarterly talks of a positive story for poultry in the latter part of the year as markets in Southeast and South Asia show accelerated growth in poultry meat consumption and disciplined supply growth.

How will Asian chicken economies embrace this opportunity?

The poultry markets in South and Southeast Asia are growing, with growth projected at 30% between 2023-2030. The drivers behind this growth are the regions’ robust economic outlook, population expansion, and a shift in consumer preference, which together present a golden investment opportunity.

Interestingly, the growth is not only about volume, but also value. In most countries in the two regions, the processed meat market is growing at double digit rates.

This is largely due to modern distribution networks and platforms, such as fast-expanding food service offerings, online food sales, and modern retail. These advancements are creating fertile ground for value addition and branding strategies, while opening numerous opportunities for producers to expand and move downstream. To stay ahead in this dynamic market, it is crucial to adapt and innovate.