Russia’s ban on U.S. poultry will have some negative market effects but will not be major impacts. That’s according to Jim Sumner President of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council. He says due to diversified markets, Russia’s move won’t be nearly as harmful as it would have been 18 years ago.
Sumner says in 1996 when Russia last placed a poultry ban that lasted one month, the effects were devastating as at that time they made up 40 percent of U.S. exports. He says now only 7 percent of U.S. poultry goes to Russia making it the fourth biggest market. Sumner says the recent Russian action will hurt their own people more than anything.
Sumner says the most important U.S. poultry customers are Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong and Mainland China.