Investments boost Saudi Arabia’s poultry output and self-sufficiency
Saudi Arabia’s poultry industry output rose to 1.2 million tonnes in 2024, strengthening the kingdom’s self-sufficiency in poultry meat, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
In the previous year, Saudi poultry production was estimated at between 900,000 and 1 million tonnes, with self-sufficiency — a key indicator under the Vision 2030 programme — standing at about 72%.
Alongside higher output, the ministry said the sector had achieved improvements in poultry product quality and food safety, while enhancing environmental protection and the efficient use of natural resources.
The Ministry also praised Saudi Good Agricultural Practices (Saudi GAP), a national certification programme designed to ensure food safety and improve product quality, for contributing to the growth. According to official estimates, it now covers around 90% of the poultry industry.
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has set a target of reaching 90% self-sufficiency in broiler meat, an unprecedented level for the Middle East. Growth is believed to be driven largely by heavy state investment, though observers caution that sustaining rapid growth could prove challenging, citing high feed import dependence, water scarcity, and rising production costs.
They note that while state support has accelerated capacity expansion, long-term gains will depend on productivity improvements and the sector’s ability to remain cost competitive without heavy subsidies.
Moving towards better effectiveness
The ministry said it strongly promotes the adoption of advanced technologies across production, processing and marketing to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. Government efforts also focus on boosting the competitiveness of domestic products in global markets by encouraging investment in artificial intelligence technologies to monitor flock health and improve feed conversion rates, the ministry said.
Among the sector’s key achievements in recent years, the ministry highlighted improvements in feed conversion ratios and reductions in energy consumption, developments that have also strengthened the competitiveness of Saudi poultry products against imports.
The ministry also credited the ‘Your Local Guarantee’ awareness campaign, which was launched to promote compliance with quality, food safety and regulatory standards, with contributing to the sector’s positive momentum.
Under the programme, the ministry provides free training for farmers on good agricultural practices, distributes comprehensive guidance on quality and food safety standards in the poultry sector, and carries out regular inspections of facilities to ensure compliance with Saudi GAP requirements.
