August 4, 2010

Ukraine's Avangard sees stronger H1 on higher egg output

Egg producer in Ukraine, Avangard, expects strong half-year results as its output in 2009 was 29% higher than 2008.

Avangard's shell egg production volume increased 29% to 1.910 million eggs, mostly as a result of the increase in poultry stock during 2009.

The company's total flock at the end of June was 18.6 million birds-up from 16.1 million heads a year ago.

Meanwhile, the average sale price increased by 44% year-on-year to 0.52 hryvna each. The company expects further growth in the price of shell eggs in the second half.

Earlier reports state that Avangard plans to complete the construction of two egg factories in Khmelnitska and Khersonska, Ukraine by 2011 and reach a full capacity in 2012.

Each facility should consist of a three-million head poultry breeding factory, 40 million tonnes per day fodder plant and a biogas plant, with the combined project costs of US$450 million.

According to the company management, the completion of the plants should allow Avangard to raise its eggs producing capacities by 35% to 6.5 billion eggs per year.