MHP Agroholding sold 159.02 thousand tons of chicken meat in January-March 2022, which is 3% more than in January-March 2021, while its sales in Ukraine decreased by 6% to 66.8 thousand tons , and exports increased by 9% – up to 89.34 thousand tons, the agricultural holding said on the London Stock Exchange on Friday.
According to its production report, the agrarian group produced 175.64 thousand tons of chicken meat during the reporting period (+5% compared to the first quarter of 2021). Thus, the agricultural holding managed to sell 90.5% of its products.
“From the start of the war, the company faced serious logistical and infrastructural problems in Ukraine. While MHP continued commercial sales in Ukraine from the start of the war, export sales stopped due to the closure of seaports, and export deliveries by road remained almost impossible,” clarified the chicken producer of the consequences of Russian aggression.
MHP also noted that it was forced to reduce the capacity utilization of poultry farming to 80-85% of the nominal in March due to reduced demand for chicken meat in Ukraine and logistical difficulties in exporting its products, due to which the agricultural holding is forced to look for alternative export routes.
In January-March 2022, the share of chicken exports reached 56% against 53% in the same period in 2021.
MHP in the report noted an increase in the price of chicken for the reporting period by an average of 28% compared to the first quarter of 2021 – up to $1.84/kg (excluding VAT), including in Ukraine up to $1.6/kg (+8%) , in export markets – up to $2.01/kg (+45%). The increase in prices was mainly due to a significant increase in prices for energy resources (mainly natural gas) and utilities.