The union of poultry farmers reported an increase of 172% on imports of chicken in the last five years and per capita consumption of 40 kilos in 2015.

Prensa.com reports that “…The report, which was presented by the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (ANAVIP) as part of its performance index for 2015, reveals that in 2010 a total of 3,445,809 kilos of chicken arrived in the country originating from the United States, compared to 2015 when 9,378,095 kilos were imported, registering an increase of about 6 million kilos of chicken over five years. “

Representatives of Panamanian poultry companies believe that the increase is “unconscionable” and although they are aware that they operate in a free market environment, they believe that “… ‘we must also work to consolidate domestic production'” said Luis Carlos Castroverde, president of the ANAVIP.

On the other hand, foreign sales of processed chicken meat products declined between 2014 and 2015, going from $6,108,929 in 2014 to 5,580,749 in 2015, which is a decrease of 8.6%.