Outlook grim for Ukraine poultry industry

Despite a drop in domestic output in 2023, the Ukrainian poultry market still has a production surplus owing to immigration and a drop in consumption, Karpenko said, adding that he didn’t expect demand to bounce back in the foreseeable future.

He called on poultry farmers to be flexible and swiftly react to market changes, adding that for the time being, they will have to rely on short-term planning.

It is estimated that nearly 9 million Ukrainians left their country since the hostilities began. In this background, Ukraine saw its poultry production falling by 8% in 2022 to roughly 1.7 million tonnes. In April 2023, the Ukrainian Institute of Agrarian Economy forecasted a 1.1% rise in output this year, accompanied by a 2-3% decline in pork production and a 12% in beef production.

To some extent, the new production forecast could be associated with rising production costs. As early as in July, the Ukrainian poultry industry will feel the negative consequences of a hike in energy tariffs, the poultry farmers association warned, adding that broiler meat and egg companies would have no choice but to raise the farmgate prices already in August.