Turkey's poultry sector to grow 5% this year

After growing an estimated 3-5% in 2009, Turkey's poultry sector is expected to grow by another 5% this year in production with an anticipated rise in exports.

Both 2008 and 2009 saw positive developments in poultry meat exports, and this year the sector will largely focus on gradually attaining more growth, said Yüce Canoler, secretary-general of the Poultry Meat Producers and Breeders' Association.

The positive development in exports is expected to continue this year, which is estimated to boost poultry production by 5%, he said.

Russia has decided to buy poultry meat from Turkey, as both Russian and Turkish veterinarians continue to negotiate over animal health certificates, said Canoler, adding they are expected to host technical committees from Saudi Arabia, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkmenistan and China to give them a tour of Turkish poultry plants in 2010.

But the country's GM ban is an issue, as the poultry sector's soy stocks are about to be completely exhausted. There are limited soy stocks and prices have increased by 50%, a serious problem that must be solved, said Canoler.