Côte d'Ivoire's Sixfold Poultry Expansion Fuels Demand for Local Maize and Soybeans
Côte d'Ivoire's poultry meat output has grown sixfold since 2010, reaching 139,000 tonnes in 2025 and driving rising demand for domestically produced maize and soybeans. Industry stakeholders meeting in Abidjan ahead of the Fieravicola 2027 trade fair called for stronger value-chain investment, improved animal health measures and technology partnerships with Italian companies to support further growth.
Côte d'Ivoire's rapid expansion of poultry production is creating growing demand for locally produced maize and soybeans, with industry stakeholders identifying feed supply-chain development, technology adoption and animal health as priorities for sustaining further growth.
According to figures presented at a strategic meeting held in Abidjan on 8 September 2026, the country's poultry meat production rose from 23,000 tonnes in 2010 to 139,000 tonnes in 2025 — an increase of roughly sixfold over fifteen years. Table egg production over the same period grew from 695 million units to 1.862 billion units.
The meeting was organised by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Ivorian Poultry Interprofessional Association (IPRAVI) and Guinea's National Interprofessional Poultry Federation (FINA) as a preparatory event for Fieravicola 2027, an international poultry trade fair scheduled for 20–22 April 2027 at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, according to Feed Business Middle East & Africa.
The poultry sector is described by the source as a major consumer of locally produced maize and soybeans, creating market opportunities for farmers and other participants across the feed value chain. The sector reportedly generates an estimated CFA480 billion (US$830 million) in annual turnover and supports more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs. Rising output has lifted per capita poultry meat consumption to 4.25 kg annually, while egg consumption has reached 57 eggs per capita.
Industry stakeholders said further investment and technology adoption will be needed to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on imported animal protein. Boubacar Dansoko, president of FINA, called for stronger interprofessional organisations, greater training for young people and modernisation of poultry production across West Africa.
Alessandro Gerbino, director of the ITA office in Dakar — which also covers Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea — said Italian expertise could support the region's production and sustainability objectives. Business-to-business meetings following the presentation brought together Italian companies including Chemifarma, Facco, Neofarma and Rota Guido with Ivorian and Guinean poultry industry representatives.
Animal health was also raised as a concern. Sidi Tiémoko Touré, Côte d'Ivoire's minister of animal and fisheries resources, highlighted the resurgence of avian influenza, including H5 subtypes, and the need to strengthen technical capacity. Italian Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Roberta Di Lecce said cooperation would include areas such as biosecurity and sustainability.
The discussions are expected to support participation by West African operators at Fieravicola 2027 and provide opportunities to explore technologies for poultry production, animal health and value-chain development, the source reported.
Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
