Russian poultry production grows above all forecasts

Russia is quickly ramping up production of poultry meat in 2012 as figures already exceed expectations.

According to estimates of Rosptitsesoyuz, the Russian Union of Poultry Farmers, in the beginning of 2012 the volume of production should rise by 300,000 tonnes to the level of 3,450,000 tonnes. Just about a month ago this forecast was raised to 350,000 tonnes.

However, apparently by the end of the year this figure will be exceeded, as in the first nine months of 2012, production of poultry in live weight in Russia increased by 383,000 tonnes or 15% compared to the level of last year. The most optimistic forecast at the beginning of the year said that Russian farmers will only produce about 370,000 tonnes poultry meat more than in 2011. At the same time the production of eggs rose by more than 800 million units (4%).

“We completely meet all needs on the domestic market and we can expect the expansion of exports to 0.5 million tonnes of poultry by 2020,” said the head of Rosptitsesoyuz, Vladimir Fisinin. He predicts that this year, exports of Russian poultry products will increase by 20% the level of the last year. In addition, this year Russia will supply abroad more than 75 million eggs.

At the same time, the head of Rosptitsesoyuz noted that export is still developing swiftly. “We had hoped that the EU would buy our poultry and joining into the WTO will help this, but they do that very cautiously, although now we can supply not only chicken, but almost 15 different products from eggs,” he said.