Trading places Broiler exporters look beyond Russia for new trade opportunities C hicken processors in the U.S. were dealt a severe blow this past year when Russian government officials essentially closed the country to leg quarter imports. The market loss led to a significant decline in exports and,a widespread dip in companies' profits. JANUARY 2004 www.MEATPOULTRY.com As U.S. production has stabilized and Russia's market has once again opened, with the U.S. receiving the lion's share of Russia's poultry import quota, processors are optimistic about the future. But that doesn't mean they're willing to put all of their eggs in one basket. U.S. broiler exports to non-traditional markets have been increasing in recent years, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service's Livestock and poultry: World markets and trade report, issued this past October. For the period MEAT&POULTRY 33http://www.MEATPOULTRY.com