Very little Australian chicken meat is exported. This is in part due to high local demand, and in part because international demand is largely met by countries which benefit from a lower cost base than Australia’s chicken meat producers and are, in some cases, supported by government subsidies.
Australian chicken meat is exported primarily to South Africa, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and the South Pacific islands (DAFF, 2011).
Over the five years to 2009–10, poultry production in Australia averaged 857,000 tonnes a year. Over the same period, Australia exported a relatively small share of poultry production to more than 60 countries. Over this period, on average, around 4 per cent of Australia’s chicken meat production was exported
Most Australian chicken producers and products are now halal certified with Steggles and Red Lea among those carrying the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils stamp of approval. The hiring of Muslim slaughtermen is a required part of the certification.
Last year AFIC made almost $6 million, much of which was put towards Islamic schools and supporting Muslim students.
