New Year price hike for white meat: Chicken prices may rise by 25 percent
A significant price increase in chicken and other white meat products is expected in the first week of 2026. Producers are preparing to update shelf prices, citing rising costs.
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Rising costs and current sales figures that are becoming increasingly insufficient are being cited as the reasons for the price increases in the white meat sector. Chicken meat, which had a factory exit price of 67 TL at the beginning of the year, is being sold in markets at prices starting from 90 TL. Industry sources state that these prices are no longer sufficient to cover costs, with current sales remaining approximately 25 percent below cost.
If the expected price hike occurs, consumers will encounter new labels on many products, primarily drumsticks, chops, wings, and whole chicken. According to estimated prices, the price per kilogram of drumsticks will rise from 120 TL to 150 TL, the price per kilogram of chops from 140 TL to 175 TL, and the price per kilogram of wings from 260 TL to 325 TL. Additionally, the price of whole chicken may increase from 90 TL to 113 TL.
Naci Kaplan, President of the Association of Poultry Meat Producers and Breeders (BESD-BİR), announced that the sector grew by 12 percent in 2025, bringing total production to 2 million 800 thousand tons. However, Kaplan stated that export quotas, which have been in effect since May 2024 in particular, have created pressure on the sector.
By the end of 2025, white meat exports fell from 600 thousand tons to 500 thousand tons. According to experts, this decrease in exports caused an excess supply in the domestic market and led prices to fall below costs. While this situation puts producers in a difficult position, it will also cause consumers to face price hikes in the coming period.