World meat industry news

According to the Federal Center for the Development of Export of Agricultural Products (FGBI “Agroexport”) of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, Russian seafood, fish and poultry exports to China increased considerably in 2022.

The overall fish and seafood exports to China last year exceeded 500 000 tons. At the same time, the physical volume of frozen fish exports increased 46%, and value is up 68%. Crustaceans exports were 30% higher than in 2021.

According to the comment received from the Federal Agency for Fisheries, this is due to, among other things, China’s growing interest in products manufactured by Russian companies (frozen fish, fillets, crabs).

Besides that, the agency’s officials see the reason for such trends in easing of Covid restrictions, and redirection of the export volumes released after the sanctions imposed by unfriendly countries.

Russian poultry exports to China reached 139 thousand tons, an 11% increase as compared to 2021. Export value increased by 53%. This makes China the largest purchaser of Russian poultry.  

“This country accounts for about 40% of the total volume of Russian poultry meat exports (42 % in 2021),” specified Agroexport.

According to Sergey Lakhtyukhov, Director General for the National Poultry Union, in 2022 China eased excessive restrictions and product testing procedures applied as part of the COVID-Zero strategy, while checks of imported products for compliance with organoleptic indicators have been increased.

“The changes in the operating procedures of the Chinese authorities were expected, so Russian manufacturers strengthened internal requirements for products intended for the Chinese market in advance” said Sergey Lakhtyukhov. Besides that, he mentioned the increased volume of poultry meat production in Russia, which resulted in growth in supplies of products that are in demand in the Chinese market.

According to Agroexport, Russia has the potential for further expansion of food supplies to China. Fish, seafood, and meat are considered the most promising.