Russian poultry production increases rapidly in 2012
This 16.9% – or 73,000t – production volume increase from the first two months of 2011, has been observed in all federal districts of the country.
The highest growth rates were registered in the Central Federal District (+23,600t in carcase weight), the Volga Federal District (+14,900t) and the South Federal District (+11,700t).
“In the medium term, the dynamic increase in poultry meat production in Russia will continue,” said experts at Russia’s largest analytical agency, Imit, adding that investment attractiveness in the industry remains at a very high level.
Over 10 new investment projects in the Russian poultry industry were reported in February 2012, the largest of which totalled RUB4-5bn (US$130-160m). Total production volume of poultry meat under these projects will reach 120,000t in carcase weight, including 67,000t of turkey meat and 20,000t of duck meat.
In January-February 2012, 23 new investments were made in the industry. The overall increase in production after launching all new enterprises, including those currently under construction, is estimated at 650,000t, and it is expected that almost all the new plants will reach full capacity in the next two years.
Russia’s annual domestic demand for chicken is currently around 3.45 million tonnes (mt), a figure expected to grow along with production, according to Galina Bobyleva, the head of the Russian union of poultry producers (Rosptizesoyu). “We believe that the demand for our products will grow in Russia, because it is a socially significant product,” she said at a recent press conference.
She noted that, despite the relative cheapness of poultry products, not all sections of the Russian population can buy it in sufficient quantities and that, in order for domestic consumption to grow, it is necessary to create certain conditions. “We want the consumption of poultry meat inside the country to grow as much as possible,” added Bobyleva.
According to experts, this growth will be made possible by the expected increase in the Russian population’s purchasing power in the near future. Bobyleva noted that the poultry industry in the country is developing unevenly, because of its historical concentration in the grain-producing areas, leading to a production surplus in some regions, and shortages in others.
