Why is this important
The explosive growth of turkey imports (by 283 times a year) indicates a change in consumer preferences: Uzbekistanis are switching to dietary meat. Russia is looking for new markets after losing European ones due to sanctions — Central Asia has become a priority. The devaluation of the ruble has made Russian turkey cheaper than Turkish and Brazilian. Local producers are not keeping up with the demand.
What happened
- Turkey imports from Russia — 850 tons in 9 months for $1.5 million;
- 2024: 3 tons for $8.5 thousand — growth of 283 times;
- First deliveries — 2022;
- Tajikistan: 700 tons worth $1 million for 9 months;
Growth drivers
Demand for dietary meat: turkey is a low-calorie protein popular among young people, athletes, and dieters. The growth of the middle class increases the demand for premium products.
Price drop: Ruble devaluation (from 60 to 100+ per dollar) made Russian turkey cheaper than competitors (Turkey, Brazil). The average price fell from $2.83 to $1.76 per kg.
Sanctions against Russia: Russia has lost European markets, shifting its focus to Central Asia, China, and the Middle East. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are priority areas.
Weak local production: Uzbek poultry farms mainly produce chicken. Turkey requires large investments, technologies, and feed — local producers are not keeping up with the demand.
Tajikistan
Similar growth: 700 tons to $1 million in 9 months. The average price is $1.43 per kg (lower than in Uzbekistan), which may indicate other delivery channels or cheaper varieties.
Context
Russian turkey: Russia is a major producer of turkey (Cherkizovo, Damate, Krasnobor). After the 2022 sanctions, it redirected its exports to friendly countries: Central Asia, China, and the UAE.
Competitors:
- Turkey is a traditional leader in turkey exports, but more expensive than Russia’s;
- Brazil is a major exporter, but logistics is more expensive due to the distance.
Local production: Uzbek poultry farms produce about 1 million tons of chicken per year, but turkey — thousands of tons. Reasons:
- High feed costs (turkey eats 2-3 times more chicken);
- Shortage of technology and breeding material;
- Limited demand until recently.
Price $1.76 per kg: cheaper than chicken ($2.-2.5 per kg retail), making turkey available to mass consumers. This is a key factor in demand growth.
Prospects: if the trend continues, turkey imports could reach 1,200-1,500 tons by the end of 2025.
