World meat industry news

Pork imports from non-CIS countries to Russia at the beginning of 2022 increased by almost six times (to 3.2 thousand tons by February 6) due to the return of cuts from Brazil to the Russian market. For 11 months of last year, the country supplied 1.9 thousand tons to the Russian market, since the beginning of this year - already 2.7 thousand tons, follows from the data of the Agroexport federal center under the Ministry of Agriculture.

"The growth occurs against the backdrop of the zeroing of duties for the import of 100 thousand tons of pork until June 30, 2022. According to information from the market, carbonade and neck from Brazil are cheaper than similar cutting positions in the Russian Federation. In this regard, internal quotations for these cuts in the next quarter may go down," the review of Agroexport says.

The Russian authorities decided to cancel import duties on pork (100 thousand tons) and beef (200 thousand tons) from the beginning of 2022 for six months against the backdrop of rising meat prices: according to Rosstat, pork has risen in price in 2021 by 14.3%, beef - by 13.7%. By allowing duty-free imports into the Russian market, the authorities hope to stabilize prices for this meat. In January 2022, pork prices decreased by 0.2%.

But if there is not enough of its own beef on the Russian market, over the past few years Russia has completely provided itself with pork. Pork imports remained at a symbolic level: last year (until November 30) it amounted to 8.9 thousand tons, having decreased by 16% over the year. According to the National Union of Pig Breeders, last year, due to outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF), pork production in Russia increased by only 0.4% (up to 5.5 million tons). But this year, the industry is expected to recover. Also this year new enterprises will be put into operation. As a result, a record increase in pork production is expected in 2022. As a result, industry experts have warned that opening up the market to imported duty-free pork could tumble prices, putting many livestock businesses already struggling to recover from ASF in a difficult position.

According to Agroexport, since the beginning of the year, pork exports from Russia to non-CIS countries have more than halved (to 7.1 thousand tons). The decrease was due to an increased drop in supplies to Vietnam (minus 76%), as a result of which this country lost first place to Ukraine in the ranking of key destinations. Over the 11 months of last year, Russia supplied 176 thousand tons of pork to foreign markets (the same as in 2020).