Israel's poultry industry has been hit by war and labor shortages

The consequences of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, combined with the Newcastle disease outbreak, have brought the poultry industry to the brink of crisis, reports local publication TheMarker, citing market players.

Retailers have recently been alarmed by double-digit increases in wholesale poultry prices. The changes have not yet affected the price tags of the products, but will appear in the near future, the publication reports.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Israel lost 16 million poultry due to a series of Newcastle disease outbreaks. The epidemic has spread to poultry plants across the country, causing severe disruption to the industry's supply chain.

Labor shortages caused by the ongoing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip are increasing pressure on the sector. For example, the regions of Kiryat Shmona, where the Of Galileh poultry farm is located , and Sha'ar HaNegev, where a similar production facility is located, faced labor shortages after nearby communities were evacuated for security reasons. HaGalil slaughters about 15% of Israel's chicken, while Of Oz slaughters about 5% of the total, TheMarker said, citing industry sources.

This factor has prompted other poultry factories to expand their operations to fill the gaps in the market. Some poultry farms have switched to a 6-day work week. However, according to industry representatives, until the security situation improves and the epidemic continues to spread, the situation will only get worse.