Ukraine-based agro-industrial company MHP SA said sales of chicken meat increased by 50 percent to 110,000 tonnes versus last year mainly due to the launch of the first phase of the Myronivka chicken farm complex, reports Forbes from Thomson Financial.

The complex reached its full production capacity in October 2007.

The group adds that it expects that poultry market prices will remain stable during the second half of the year due to an increase in state subsidies.

MHP said oilseed rape prices in the first-half rose by 40 per cent and added it has sold 90 per cent of its rape yield. It also said it expects wheat sale prices to be higher in 2008 than last year.

Confident that its financial results for the period will be in line with expectations, the company's first-half results are due to be announced on 17 September.