Until now, Russian poultry meat producers exporting to China have sent their goods by sea. However, last week, the first consignment to be sent in refrigerated wagons by rail arrived in China, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Taking around 18 days to reach the Chinese municipality of Chongqing from Moscow, the journey was significantly faster and cheaper than the usual route by sea and road.
First shipment comprised just under 25 metric tons (mt) of frozen chicken with a value of CNY336,000 (US$47,000). At the end of last week, Xinhua reported that the goods were being inspected by Chinese customs officials.
Taking advantage of the China-Europe rail route for the first time was Cherkizovo Group. In mid-May, the firm reported that the first refrigerated container of its poultry meat had been dispatched from the Bekasovo train station near Moscow. Cherkizovo’s Chinese partners were present at the departure of the special cargo.
China a key export market for Cherkizovo
Marking another “first,” Cherkizovo Group reported its first exports of turkey meat to China last month. Around 27 metric tons (mt) of products including turkey wing pieces comprised the first consignment from Tambov Turkey — a joint venture between Cherkizovo and Grupo Fuertes of Spain.
The trade was made possible after the Chinese authorities agreed to include wings on the approved list of turkey products permitted for import from Russia.
China is a key export market for Cherkizovo Group, according to the firm’s head of exports.
The trade — which commenced just one year ago — resulted in Cherkizovo shipping 14,000 mt of poultry meat to China in 2019. As a consequence, China was the destination for 40% of the firm’s total poultry exports for the year.
Having dispatched the first consignment to China in May, Tambov Turkey is planning to expand future turkey meat shipments to include more destined tfor the country's meat processing plants.
For its part, Cherkizovo Group aims to increase its total poultry meat exports to China to 50,000 mt this year. The firm's turkey exports are set to at least double, with a target volume of 2,000 mt turkey meat to Chinese destinations in 2020. Last year, the firm’s global trade in this meat totaled 1,500 mt.
Earlier this year, Cherkizovo Group commenced exports of poultry meat to the United Arab Emirates.
Increased sales volumes were reported by all the Group’s business for the first quarter of this financial year.
China’s poultry sector in recovery
Forecasters say China’s poultry industry will take some time to recover fully from the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
China is forecast to import 675,000mt of chicken meat (excluding paws) this year, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. The increase — up from 580,000mt in 2019 — is attributed to the devastation of Chinese pork production by African swine fever last year, and its continuing impacts on the meat markets in China.
