Russia overtakes US as top turkey meat exporter to China
Russian turkey meat exports are on the rise, driven by soaring sales to China where it proved to be highly competitive.
Russia’s turkey exports, estimated at 27,000 tonnes in 2024, are projected to reach 35,000 tonnes in 2025 and 60,000 tonnes in 2030, Anatoly Velmatov, executive director of the National Association of Turkey Producers, revealed during an industry conference in Moscow.
Around 60% of Russian turkey is exported to China where Russian firms managed to eat into the market share of the other prominent suppliers. “In fact,” he said, “we have ousted large suppliers from this market: the US and South America.”
Exports are expected to remain a key force driving the Russian turkey industry growth. In 2024, Russian farmers manufactured 438,000 tonnes of turkey, which was 3.8% up compared with the previous year. In 2025, the output is expected to climb further by 6% to 465,000 tonnes, Velmatov projected.
The ultimate goal is to push the export share to 10% of the turkey meat production, Velmatov revealed.
Weak demand
A worsening bird flu situation and a decline in consumption in key sales markets are the main challenges the Russian turkey industry faces, Velmatov said. “In addition, we also see risks associated with a decrease in overall meat consumption. For example, Europe is already seeing the negative dynamics of the consumption of all types of meat. In addition, meat often becomes less affordable for consumers,” Velmatov said.
The impact of the ESG agenda and tightening environmental regulations on turkey farmers is also seen as a threat to the industry, he added.
Hatching egg problem is nearly solved
In 2024, the Russian turkey industry could have experienced a stronger growth in output, but the bird flu epidemic hurt hatching egg imports and consecutively hampered the industry’s production performance, Velmatov said.
“We mainly imported them [hatching eggs] from Europe, North America, Canada. By the end of 2024 we manufactured 66% of the products, or 34 million pieces, in our country where the total market demand is estimated at 52 million eggs,” Velmatov said.
In 2025, Velmatov projected an increase in the production of hatching eggs to 38 million pieces, while the demand in this segment will jump to 55-56 million pieces.
Several new projects currently under discussion can boost Russian hatching egg production further by 30-40% in the coming years.
