February 26 2003, 12:07

Russia will increase output of poultry meat 17 pc in 2003

Russia's poultry breeding enterprises will increase production of meat by 17 percent in this year. According to the President of Russian Poultry Breeders' Union Vladimir Fissinin, in 2003 the industry plans to produce 1.15 million tonnes of poultry meat against 986,500 tonnes last year.

Total production of poultry meat in 2002, put together industrial breeding enterprises and individuals producing poultry in their households, constituted 1.393 million tonnes, which is 7.8 percent more than in 2001.

According to Fisinin, Russia's market of poultry meat in this year, considering the yearly import quota (744,000 tonnes) and carryover stocks (170,000 tonnes), will constitute 2.2 million tonnes. He said the price growth for poultry meat in this year would constitute 5 to 7 percent, due to growth in prices for fuel.

Currently in Russia there are 166 broiler breeding factories and 450 egg-producing factories. Over the last ten years the numbers of poultry in all categories of Russia's breeding businesses has decreased 1.9 times. In 2001 it constituted 353.8 million heads. Per capita annual consumption of domestically produced poultry meat in the country decreased from 12 kilos in 1990 to 6.7 kilos in 2002.