Turkey to export chickens to Russia

Turkey's poultry industry has now earned access to the Russian market after a delegation from Russia visited Turkish poultry companies in September.

Six Turkish firms - Banvit, Seker Pilic, Keskinoglu, Er Pilic, CP and Senpilic - have received preliminary permission to export poultry products to Russia.

Russia banned Turkish meat imports in the 1990s due to the foot-and-mouth disease. The ban has now been lifted on these six companies, which plan to start exports next year.

Emre Bor, managing director of Seker Pilic, said they are now waiting for detailed information from Russia on the amount of products they want and what the customs tax will be.

Russia imports more than one million tonnes of chicken annually, and Turkey may have a transportation advantage over rivals, Bor said.