RUSSIA's hope to become a major player in the world poultry market is getting a boost from China's epidemic of African swine flu that threatens 30 per cent of the country's hog herd.
'We expect China to be among our main customers,' said Andrei Terekhin, head of the export department at Russia's Cherkizovo Group, which plans to ship poultry to China soon.
'The situation is favourable for entry to the market,' he said.
For the first time since the Soviet era, Russia is sending poultry to China. The market for cheaper alternatives to pork is opening up as analysts say China can expect to lose much of its pork production.
It will likely take time to seriously challenge major shippers like the US, Brazil and European Union, but last month's sale of chicken wings could be a warning of more competition for exporters hoping to send more to China, reports Bloomberg.
After doubling poultry output in the past decade to rank as the No 6 producer, Russia may already be able meet some of China's needs. For example, its chicken exports last year were equal to a third of Chinese imports.
WORLD SHIPPING
'We expect China to be among our main customers,' said Andrei Terekhin, head of the export department at Russia's Cherkizovo Group, which plans to ship poultry to China soon.
'The situation is favourable for entry to the market,' he said.
For the first time since the Soviet era, Russia is sending poultry to China. The market for cheaper alternatives to pork is opening up as analysts say China can expect to lose much of its pork production.
It will likely take time to seriously challenge major shippers like the US, Brazil and European Union, but last month's sale of chicken wings could be a warning of more competition for exporters hoping to send more to China, reports Bloomberg.
After doubling poultry output in the past decade to rank as the No 6 producer, Russia may already be able meet some of China's needs. For example, its chicken exports last year were equal to a third of Chinese imports.
WORLD SHIPPING