October 9, 2012

Compared to 2012 levels, the Russian union of poultry farmers forecasts 2013 chicken production to increase by 7.3% and turkey production to increase by 5%, mostly due to favourable on-going government support programmes.

Also, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) forecasts broiler imports to remain stable in 2013 after an anticipated growth of 3% in 2012 compared to 2011 levels , due to an increase in broiler meat consumption instead of the more expensive pork and beef.

The FAS also reported that chicken meat imports increased by 3% in 2012 to 515,000 tonnes due to a significant increase in imports from Ukraine, which grew from 5,171 tonnes in January-June 2011 to 7,430 tonnes in January-June 2012, as well as due to a higher volume of 2012 broiler tariff import quotas. Russian broiler imports are forecast to grow by another 3% in 2013, primarily as a result of growing duty free and quota-free imports from Ukraine and Belarus.

According to the Russian Federal Static Service, Russia imported 191,245 tonnes of broiler products in January-June 2012, a 17% increase over the same period in 2011.