Poultry production ranges from small family systems, supporting livelihoods and supplying local or niche markets, to large-scale industrialized enterprises. The latter generally feed into integrated value chains, while the former, often characterized by low output, sell their produce through informal trading networks.

Poultry market prices can vary significantly, influenced by seasonal patterns (e.g. higher prices during festivities), production costs and competition from other products. Production costs are very volatile and can vary significantly from one region to another. They are largely based on the characteristics of the final product (e.g. high-quality meat takes longer to produce, which means higher costs) as well as on feed prices (mainly grain), climatic conditions and the genetic lines used. Poultry tends to be cheaper than other meats because they are efficient feed converters.

In most countries, poultry production is mainly for domestic consumption, but international trade is increasing. Most of the poultry meat available on the global market comes from large-scale, specialized commercial producers. The main importers of poultry meat are developing countries, where cheap, low-quality cuts such as wings, lower legs, necks and giblets sold by the piece make chicken meat more accessible to the average consumer. In contrast, consumers in developed countries  tend to buy chicken breasts and thigh meat and, to a lesser extent, drumsticks.  

Poultry meat products are usually exported frozen. International trade in eggs is relatively small compared to poultry meat, mainly because it is impossible to freeze them for transport over long distances. The three categories of egg exports are: (i) in-shell table eggs; (ii) in-shell eggs for hatching; and (iii) egg products (in liquid, frozen or dried form).

The evolution and dynamics of world poultry markets are mostly driven by animal disease outbreaks and trade policies. In recent decades, avian influenza and Newcastle disease have profoundly affected poultry meat trade, as has the implementation of trade agreements. Sanitary requirements ultimately determine international poultry trade.