Strong Increase in Ukraine Poultry Forecast

KIEV - Feb 11/04 - SNS -- Steady increases in feeding costs have not dissuaded the Ukraine's poultry producers from expanding production to meet the consumption needs of a wealthier populace.

This recent trend is expected to remain intact through 2004, lifting broiler meat output from just 136,000 MT in 2002 and an estimated 190,000 metric tons (MT) in 2003 to a projected 255,000 MT this year.

Two major Ukrainian poultry producers, with nearly 60% combined domestic production, continued expanding in 2003 and announced further ambitious plans for 2004, reports the U.S. agricultural attache here. The largest Ukrainian producer -- Myronivsky Khleboproduct -- began a US $116 million expansion project following approval of a US $30 million loan from the World Bank's International Finance Corporation.

Poultry imports for 2003 are currently registered at only 1,000 MT shy of the record high import level of 1997 and should end the year at around 96,000 MT. However, import demand is expected to collapse in the face of surging domestic production and could finish 2004 at around 52,000 MT.

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