Platts US boneless chicken breast price assessment hits lowest level since launch

The Platts assessment for Jumbo boneless skinless chicken breasts hit $1.70/lb on Sept. 3, the lowest value since the assessment started on May 1.

US BSB prices previously reached a low of $1.75/lb on July 14 but have since rebounded, climbing to as high as $2.10/lb in early August. Typically, BSB prices experience a seasonal decline following the summer months. However, market participants had expected greater price stability until October.

"The BSB market seems to be cooling off a month before what I was expecting," said a source. "I've been hearing supply is coming and some players are killing on Saturday to offset heavier birds."

Demand levels have held strong with support from high beef prices, but supply levels have put pressure on pricing. The broiler slaughter rate is running 1.2% above last year on a cumulative basis, with the full year estimated to be up 1.5-2% from the full 2024 data, according to S&P Energy analytics data.

US Department of Agriculture posted a weekly weighted average BSB price at $1.97/lb for the week ended Aug. 29, a 6-cent/lb decline from the previous week. This was also the first week that the 2025 BSB price fell below the same week in 2024, which was $1.99/lb. USDA data for 2024 showed BSB pricing declined near $1.50/lb in October and held mostly stable through Q4.