August 9, 2013

Ukraine aims to be one of the top 10 world exporters of poultry this year as producers are allowed to supply poultry products to the EU, says first vice prime minister, Serhiy Arbuzov.

"The fact that Ukrainian poultry producers are able to export their products to European countries helps us to expand the geography of exports," Arbuzov said. "This year, Ukraine has every opportunity to enter the top 10 world leaders in export of poultry."

According to the minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, companies that are licensed to export poultry product to the European Union this year will supply the market with an additional 50,000 tonnes of chicken meat.

According to the Union of Poultry Producers of Ukraine, in 2013 total exports of poultry products is expected to increase from last year''s 80,000 tonnes to 140,000 tonnes. In addition, due to the strong growth in demand for Ukrainian poultry products from Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine poultry shipments could grow between 20% and 30% per year.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture has stated that meat consumption will rise by almost one kilogramme per person this year as a result of the increased production of beef, pork and chicken.