Tunisia poultry production slows due to decreased demand, increased feed prices

Tunisia’s poultry production has slowed due to lower consumer demand and increased feed prices, according to Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council regional director based in the North African country.
The cutback will reduce the national demand for feed grains in 2011 after 2010 saw record corn imports and the first major importation of distillers dried grains.
This follows the social unrest and riots in Tunisia this year, in which rising food costs and unemployment were a major factor. The riots can be expected to have a major impact on Tunisia’s tourism industry and therefore for the national economy, said Sifferath. Tourism has represented 8% to 10% of Tunisia’s gross domestic product and was a major source of hard currency. “The effects on feed grains demand across North Africa is not known yet," said Sifferath. "However, Tunisia’s demand will be set back in 2011.”