Philippine chicken production expanded in the first quarter of 2026 as poultry growers ramped up output to meet steady consumer demand. However, softer farmgate prices signaled improving supply conditions and tighter margins for producers.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed total chicken production from January to March reached 585,470 metric tons, liveweight, up 5.8 percent from 553,450 metric tons in the same period last year.
The growth underscored the poultry sector’s continued resilience compared with other livestock industries, supported by faster production cycles and relatively stable consumer demand for chicken as an affordable protein source.
Central Luzon remained the country’s top chicken-producing region, accounting for 33 percent of the total output, with 195,420 thousand metric tons. Other major contributors were CALABARZON, Northern Mindanao, the Davao Region, and SOCCSKSARGEN. Together, the five regions produced 71 percent of the country’s total chicken supply during the quarter.
The Davao Region posted the biggest production increase in volume terms, expanding by 8,440 thousand metric tons year on year, reflecting growing poultry investments outside Luzon.
Broiler chicken continued to dominate the industry, accounting for 87 percent of total production. Central Luzon led broiler output, with 186,160 thousand metric tons, while Northern Mindanao posted the highest native and improved chicken production.
As of the end of March, the country’s total chicken inventory rose 1.6 percent to 224,960 million birds from 221,390 million a year earlier. Growth in broiler and layer chicken stocks offset declines in native chicken and gamefowl populations.
Despite higher production and inventory levels, average farmgate prices of broiler chicken fell 4.7 percent to P120.51 per kilogram from P126.44 a year ago, suggesting increased supply helped stabilize market prices amid easing food inflation pressures.
March recorded the highest average farmgate price at P123.02 per kilogram, while February posted the lowest at P118.56 per kilogram.
