Gert-Jan Oplaat: Dutch poultry trade

During the three-day congress at the VIV-Europe 2022, aviNews International had the great opportunity to interview different poultry experts with experience in diverse fields or areas in the industry. This note introduces you to the interview with Gert-Jan Oplaat the chairman of the Association of Dutch Poultry Processing Industries (NEPLUVI). The interviews were developed by Ad Bal, the editor of aviNews International, who has more than 20 years of experience as an editor in de poultry sector. Gert-Jan explained that the Association of Dutch Poultry Processing Industries is in charge of accompanying all poultry processors in the slaughterhouse and cutting plants.

• The organization is responsible for export certificates, and product legalization, among others.

He also indicated that currently, the association counts 60 members, and 17 are slaughterhouses. The others are cutting plants, traders, and cold stores. Talking about the processed tonnes, Gert-Jan said that there are 2 million chickens sacrificed per day for a total of 10 million chickens per 5 days or a week. Moreover, the export position is around 3 billion euros per year of which 2.5 billion goes to European countries and 500 million goes to 3 other countries outside the European Union. Gert-Jan explained to Ad, that the market is growing so fast and the NEPLUVI members are creating different strategies for that since it is not easy to have competitors such as Poland and Ukraine. Other discussed topics were:

• Influence of Ukraine and Russian war on the poultry production
• Challenges for the [register] Dutch poultry processing industry