USDA International Egg and Poultry: Nigeria

USDA International Egg and Poultry

Reports » USDA International Egg and Poultry » USDA International Egg and Poultry: Nigeria

20 February 2013

Nigeria is the largest market in sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated population of 174.5 million people in 2013 and a population growth rate estimated at three percent annually.

Nigeria is the 7^th largest country in the world by population and the largest in Africa. Petroleum exports account for about 20% of GDP, 95% of total export earnings and close to 85% of federal government revenue. Nigeria’s estimated GDP in 2012 was $450.5 billion, ranking 31 in comparison to the world. Driven by a recovery in oil prices, GDP rose 7.07% in 2011 and 7.37% in 2012. Agriculture accounts for about 31% GDP and 70% of the labor force.

The poultry industry in Nigeria had been rapidly expanding in past years, increasing from 185,300 MT in 2001 to 268,000 MT in 2011. Very high input costs in 2008 and 2010, caused flock expansion to effectively cease in 2008 and in 2011. Although an import ban on corn was lifted in 2008, most poultry producers are wary to import for fear that corn merchants with strong political connections will use Custom officials to frustrate such imports.

Chicken Meat Production, Select Countries
Thousand Metric Tons

Data Source: FAOSTAT | © FAO Statistics Division 2013 | 5 February 2013

Soybean meal is the dominant and preferred protein ingredient in poultry feed rations. Prices of soybean meal surged to a high of $775 a ton in 2011, up from $485 the previous year. In ideal situations, poultry producers would prefer soybean meal inclusion rate of 30 percent in compound their feed, but the scarcity and high cost of the product have forced them to reformulate in favor of low quality substitutes such as peanut cake, cottonseed, and palm kernel meal.

In 2011 Nigerian hen egg production totaled 636,000 MT and was valued at $527.49 million, ranking 19th in world hen egg production and the top producer in Africa.

Hen Egg Production, in Shell, Select Countries
Thousand Metric Tons

Data Source: FAOSTAT | © FAO Statistics Division 2013 | 5 February 2013

Nigeria is a long standing member of the WTO (since January 1, 1995) and is an active participant in CODEX and WTO committees. However, the country’s powerful agricultural and industry interests have continued to hamper GON’s attempts at total trade liberalization. Hence, the country continues to pursue trade protection regime but remains under pressure to liberalize trade in conformity to its WTO commitments. Imports of all live cattle, beef, and beef products are not allowed due to BSE related concern. Pork, Mutton, and Goat meat are also unilaterally banned. Nigeria also bans live poultry (excepting only day-old chicks) and poultry meat, including fresh, frozen, and cooked poultry meat, due to concerns over their ability to enforce SPS standards on imported animals and goods.

Source: USDA GAIN Reports dated 11/20/2012, 12/7/2011 and 4/17/2008; CIA World Factbook; World Trade Organization; US Census Bureau