World meat industry news

Pork production in Russia has not shown the same growth in 2021 compared to previous years. However, companies differed in their performance. According to the National Union of Swine Breeders (NSS), industrial production increased only about 57,000 t (1.1%) to 4.95 mill. t live weight compared to 2020. However, looking at the annual growth rates of the biggest companies in the pork producing sector paints a slightly different picture.

According to a survey by the NSS, Russia's top 10 companies produced a combined 2.92 mill. t of pork last year, 262,000 t or 9.8% more than in 2020. Accordingly, the market share of the ten major corporations rose to 59.1%; a year earlier, it had been 54.4%.

The agricultural holding Miratorg remained at the top, with a market share of 11.2% and an increase of its pork production by 6.3% to 555,200 t compared to 2020. The group also leads the domestic beef production and produces poultry products, deli meats and ready meals.

Siberian-based Sibagro moved up to the second place with a 42.0% increase in production volume to 365,700 t. In 2020, the group had ranked seventh on the list; hence the market share rose from 5.3% to 7.4%. According to the group, capacities were expanded through renovations and expansions of pig farms and the acquisition of production units from competitors. However, Sibagro expects further growth due to an increase in production to 500,000 t live weight within the next two years. In addition to pork, Sibagro also produces sausages, delicatessen products, poultry, and eggs.

According to NSS, Russia's third-largest pork producer in 2021 was Velikoluksky, with a production of 309,200 t and a market share of 6.2%. Even though the economic importance of agro-industrial pork producers has increased significantly in recent years, the concentration of Russian abattoirs is lower than in Germany. According to the Interessengemeinschaft der Schweinehalter Deutschlands (ISN), the top 10 companies in Germany accounted for 82% of pig slaughterings in 2020.