Russia broiler imports, production to increase in 2013

Russia's broiler imports are forecast to increase by 3 percent in 2013 as a result of growing duty-free and quota-free imports from Ukraine and Belarus, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Broiler production in 2013 is also forecast to increase, by 7.3 percent, and turkey production will increase by 5 percent. These positive trends in production are due, in large part, to favorable ongoing government support programs, coupled with growing investments from businesses, said the Foreign Agricultural Service. The broiler number is on top of an already expected increase of 6.8 percent in 2012, to 2.75 million metric tons, though turkey production was revised down by 9 percent to 100,000 metric tons due to slow implementation of state-funded assistance projects.
Broiler imports for 2012 were revised up by 3 percent to 515,000 metric tons due to a significant increase in imports from Ukraine. In January through June, Russia imported 191,245 metric tons of broiler products, a 17 percent increase over the same period in 2011.