World meat industry news

General Director of the National Union of Poultry Farmers (NSP) Sergei Lakhtyukhov, in an interview with the editors of the magazine "Veterinary and Life", assessed the export potential of Russian producers. At the end of 2019, Russia shipped 34.8 thousand tons of poultry meat to China, taking the 5th position among suppliers of goods in this category. Since the beginning of 2020, domestic poultry exporters have sent 62 thousand tons of products to the PRC and, according to analysts from the FINAM investment holding, by the beginning of 2021 this volume of exports of Russian-made poultry meat and by-products may grow to 150-200 thousand tons. According to the NSP, now more than 50% of Russian poultry meat exports go to China. Moreover, 52% of its structure is occupied by chicken legs, and this is a certain dependence, noted Sergey Lakhtyukhov. There are risks in the current system. Now, against the backdrop of a shortage of pork, China is intensively developing the production of chicken: last year its production increased by more than 10% compared to 2018 - up to 14 million tons, and this year it is expected to increase by another 8%.

Another factor that could weaken the position of Russian poultry exporters in the Chinese market is the return of the United States to this market after a trade confrontation with China. Now American poultry companies are increasing their supplies every month. The head of the professional business community said that domestic exporters need to build a diversification system, both in terms of assortment and geography. The result of their organized interaction with the Rosselkhoznadzor and the Ministry of Agriculture should be the opening of new directions for the supply of Russian poultry products.