April 12, 2007

Russia expects poultry output to increase 16 percent this year
 

Russia's poultry meat output is expected to rise by 16 percent this year to about 1.8 million tonnes, senior agricultural officials said on Wednesday (Apr 12).

Hopes of a 250,000-tonne increase in output this year has been buoyed by an increase of 60,000 tonnes in the first quarter of the year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Mitin said.

Russia's poultry sector currently produces about 53 percent of the country's consumption, according to the Russian Poultry Breeders' Union (RosPtitseSoyuz). 

Russia is on an initiative to increase poultry production, with part of the efforts involving regulating of imports with tariff quotas.

The quota this year would be raised by about 40,000 tonnes to 1.17 million tonnes.

The US, which accounts for 70 percent of Russia's imports, would see an increase of more than 30,000 tonnes to 871,400 tonnes under the increased quota whereas the EU would see an increase of 8,000 tonnes to 228,600 tonnes. 

Poultry and poultry products within the quota may be imported at a discount tariff of 25 percent of the customs value, but no less than (US$0.269) per kg. Poultry meat imported above the quota is liable to 60 percent but no less than US$ 0.64 per kg.

Russia's meat consumption was equally balanced between poultry, beef and pork. 

About 87 percent of all poultry meat consumed in Russia was broiler meat and 11 percent comprised other chicken meat.