Russia

Over the past few years Russia’s broiler industry has rebounded from the poor production levels in the mid to late ‘90s and is expected to reach 1990 levels in 2007. Russian broiler production all but collapsed in the mid 90’s and struggled with tight grain supplies in the late 90’s. At a seminar in 1996 on the crisis in broiler production, discussions covered the many poultry factories that were bankrupt or had stopped business altogether, the bad quality poultry feed, the low genetic potential of Russian poultry breeds and the disintegrated system.

Russia invested heavily in the poultry industry and built efficient western- style production facilities. Daily weight gain doubled from 22 to 44 grams, feed conversion reached 1.95, and total meat and poultry production increased by 4.6 percent in 2006 over 2005. Poultry production totaled an estimated 1.55 million metric tons in 2006 and is forecast to reach 1.8 million in 2007. About 13 percent of the total broiler production increase was due to the increase in broiler weight gain from 43 grams in 2005 up to 44.5 grams in 2006.

Broiler production accounts for 87 percent of the total poultry meat production, spent hens 11 percent, turkey 1 percent, goose .8 percent and duck .2 percent. The calculated average profitability of broiler production was 13-15 percent in 2006, 8 percent lower than in 2005. The decline is due to the increase in production costs combined with lower wholesale prices. Processing poultry meats and eggs increased profits by 15 percent.

Food processing, baking and confectionary industries use 100,000 MT of liquid eggs, including 72,000 MT of mélange and 28,000 MT of liquid egg protein. Currently the domestic industry can only offer 12,000 MT of mélange and 1,700 MT of liquid egg protein.

According to Russia’s Foreign Trade Statistics, Russia imported 1,273.7 thousand metric tons of poultry (H.S. 0207) in 2006 valued at $921.3 million compared to 1,318.3 thousand MT valued at $847.6 million in 2005. January 2007 imports totaled 67.1 thousand metric tons valued at $50.7 million compared to 52.3 thousand metric tons valued at $32.3 million in January 2006.

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