Poultry market information is from the week of August 16, 2026.
This week, analysts reported that pricing on all sizes of breast meat remained unchanged, while jumbo tenders and medium and jumbo wings declined. Analysts expect pricing to possibly be stable on tenders in the near term. They also report that egg sets and placements were up, compared to the same time last year. Analysts expect supply to be balanced to heavy through the end of 2026. According to industry analysts, freight costs continue to climb.
Broiler-Type Eggs Set in the United States Up Slightly
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, hatcheries in the United States weekly program set 250 million eggs in incubators during the week ending August 15, 2026, up slightly from a year ago. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week in the United States was 79.3%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.
Broiler-Type Chicks Placed in the
United States Up 2%
Per the weekly USDA Broiler Hatchery report, broiler growers in the United States weekly program placed 197 million chicks for meat production during the week ending August 15, 2026, up 2% from a year ago. Cumulative placements from the weeks ending January 10, 2026 through August 15, 2026 for the United States were 6.29 billion. Cumulative placements were up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Whole Chicken &
Cut-Up Parts
Analysts report that small bird and larger whole bird overall demand rose slightly this week, and that pricing has also increased slightly.
Boneless, Skinless Thighs
Analysts report that boneless, skinless thigh meat remained unchanged this week. Spot load offerings of boneless thigh meat can be uncovered, with pricing remaining steady, according to analysts, who expect the market to remain stable to weak through August.
Boneless, Skinless Breasts & Chicken Tenderloins
This week, analysts reported that all sizes of breast meat remained unchanged. Spot loads of jumbo breast meat can be uncovered and are competitively priced, they reported. Demand by Further Processors and the retail segment for breast meat is steady, they said. Analysts expect the jumbo boneless breast market to be flat to potentially up just before Labor Day. According to industry analysts, some processors are being challenged with labor shortages, bird weights and high freight cost.
According to analysts, pricing on jumbo and medium tenders declined this week. Fresh spot loads are available at discounted pricing, and frozen product can be sourced at better price points than fresh product, analysts said. They expect these markets to be balanced to downward in the near term.
Wings
Pricing for jumbo and medium wings declined slightly this week, while small wings remained unchanged, according to analysts. Offerings of spot loads of jumbo fresh wings continue to surface, as promotional activity has subsided, they reported. Analysts also predict that due to medium bird processors taking their bird weights up to a jumbo size, the market will continue to see pressure in terms of consistent fresh medium wing availability. Demand from the retail segment and Further Processors for all sizes of wings is reported as flat, according to analysts.
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