Turkey market: recession not as bad as expected

Production of turkey meat in the EU declined by only 3,5 per cent last year, though 5,5 per cent was expected by experts. According to a forecast by USDA, the EU turkey market will recover in 2007. The declining trend in production and consumption will continue however, as competitiveness of production in the EU also continues to decline. The Hungarian turkey business had been suffering from excess production in recent years, though self-limitation has been accepted by producers since. EU exports of live swine and pork to third countries exceeded two million tons last year.