April 4, 2025 | 05:37 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Wednesday- 10:25, 28/06/2023

Bird flu drives up prices in the Russian poultry meat market

(VAN) In May 2022, Russia experienced a 15-20% hike in prices on the poultry meat market.
In May 2022, Russia experienced a 15-20% hike in prices on the poultry meat market. Photo: Megan Rexazin

In May 2022, Russia experienced a 15-20% hike in prices on the poultry meat market. Photo: Megan Rexazin

Prices in Russia rose to 160-190 rubles (US$1.9-2.3) per kg in slaughter weight. To a large extent, this dynamic is associated with the continuing highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic in the country and the risk of new outbreaks, the Russian consulting agency, Emeat reported, as quoted by the Russian edition of Forbes.

Since the beginning of 2022, Russian veterinary services registered 45 bird flu outbreaks, including 7 among farmed poultry. The latest outbreak was reported on 20 May, when the disease hit Romanovkiy farm in the Yaroslavl Oblast, claiming 800,000 heads of broilers.

Worsening epidemic

The Russian veterinary body Rosselhozndazdor has repeatedly warned about the threat of the bird flu for the poultry industry, describing last year’s situation with the disease spread globally as “one of the gloomiest ever”.

In 2022, Russian government agencies registered 56 outbreaks in the country, while over the past 3 years, the disease incurred losses to Russian agriculture totalling 4.5 billion rubles.

“Alas, we are not expecting the situation around avian influenza to be positive this year. In Russia, it is going to be similar to what we had in 2022, or even worse,” Sergey Yakovlev, senior veterinary expert of the Russian Union of poultry producers, Rosptitsesoyuz, told Forbes. In this background, he reminded that WOAH advised all countries to consider vaccinating poultry flocks in backyard farms against avian influenza to constrain the epidemic.

Russian poultry farmers are heavily investing in protecting their operations against avian influenza, Forbes reported.

Multiple factors

On the other hand, not all analysts agree that the disease is the main factor triggering a hike in poultry prices in the Russian market. Konstantin Korneev, director of the Russian consulting firm Rincon Management, said that the trend could be partly linked to problems in importing foreign technologies to Russia. He added that thanks to parallel import, this issue is not pressing, but still, it led to a rise in production costs.

In addition, the price dynamics could be associated with the current trends in the Russian consumer market.

“You can’t look at one group of products in isolation: if people began to spend less money, for example, on personal care products and clothes, preferring food products, in particular chicken meat as the source of the most affordable protein, this could affect prices,” Korneev said.

HD

(PW)

Banks see a dire climate future - and ways to profit

Banks see a dire climate future - and ways to profit

(VAN) The nation’s top banks are quietly advising their clients on how to build a financial life raft - or perhaps life yacht - from the wreckage of runaway climate change.

Conflict and rising food prices drive Congolese into one of the world's worst food crises

Conflict and rising food prices drive Congolese into one of the world's worst food crises

(VAN) From FAO Office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Brazil faces inflation risks as surging corn prices eclipse rice plunge

Brazil faces inflation risks as surging corn prices eclipse rice plunge

(VAN) Corn prices in the Campinas region have surged past 90 reais ($15.80) per 60-kg bag, the highest nominal level in nearly three years, marking a more than 23% jump year-to-date, according to the widely followed Cepea index from the University of Sao Paulo.

Breaking cycle of forest land grabs

Breaking cycle of forest land grabs

(VAN) Thailand’s efforts to address landlessness among its population has been a priority for multiple administrations.

Engaging the next generation in the connection between forests and foods

Engaging the next generation in the connection between forests and foods

(VAN) FAO, together with the Government of Italy, and a forest expert and a master ice cream maker from Italy, educate young students on the significance of forest foods at FAO Park.

The glyphosate debate

The glyphosate debate

(VAN) The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide’s presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK.

The spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza calls for stepped up action, FAO says

The spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza calls for stepped up action, FAO says

(VAN) Averting losses of hundreds of millions of poultry crucial to mitigate impacts on food security, nutrition and affordability of poultry products.

Read more