Russia: Self-sufficient in poultry by 2013

Russia, a major importer of poultry could become self-sufficient in three years, which is within the 2013 target set by the government to reach this goal.

Russia, which has been developing domestic pig and poultry breeding to cut its dependency on imports worth hundreds of millions of dollars, has said it should stop poultry imports in three years.

“As far as poultry meat is concerned, the target (of reaching self-sufficiency) may be achieved even earlier (than 2012-2013),” Sergei Mikhailov, the CEO of Russian meat producer, Cherkizovo told the Reuters Russia Summit.

Poultry imports
“Imports from the start of the year to July 1 were some 150,000 tonnes. We survived and can make a preliminary conclusion that maybe imports are not necessary and we may reach self-sufficiency.”

According to official customs data, Russia imported 169,800 tonnes of poultry meat in January-July of this year, 75% less than in the same period of 2009 after banning imports from top supplier the United States for more than six months.

“Therefore the talk is no longer about volumes on which Russia is dependent. Imports will continue, maybe 400,000-450,000 tonnes in the whole year (of 2010),” Mikhailov said.

“If there is an increase of production by 200,000 tonnes this year and an equal volume, if not more, next year this will reduce imports to minimal volumes of 200,000-300,000 tonnes (annually).”