Poultry market in Romania estimated at 1.2 billion euros in 2008

20.11.2007 /ROMPRES - Romanian News Agency
ROMPRES


The poultry market in Romania could reach 1.2 billion euros in 2008, up 20 percent as against this year, the President of Poultry Breeders Union in Romania Ilie Van told Rompres.
The market will be strongly influenced by the structural funds to come after 2008.

'The poultry market this year will reach 900 million or 1 billion euros, including the poultry meat, eggs, processed food and biological material,' said Van.

The sector was heavily hit by the avian flu in 2006, the producers reporting 120 million euros in losses.

The Union estimates investment of 170 million euros in 2007, some 100 million euros being spent so far.

The producers currently cover 70 percent of the domestic demand, the rest being imported.

The Union has 82 registered companies producers meat and other 81 companies producers of eggs, some 350 farms in total.

Thirty-six slaughterhouses are functioning according to EU norms, and others are expecting authorization.

The poultry meat market in Romania reported a spectacular evolution over the past years, as Romanians prefer fresh meat instead of frozen products.

The offer is more varied and the processed food became popular, so the domestic producers are paying attention to it.

Agricola Bacau, Transavia, Agrisol International, Avicola Calarasi and Avicola Crevedia are the main players on the market.



Original article: http://www.rompress.ro