World meat industry news

Russian pig breeders have hope to enter the Chinese market. According to the head of the National Union of Pig Breeders Yuri Kovalev, the chances for Russia have increased dramatically after China agreed on the principle of regionalization of African swine fever (ASF) for France.

Prior to this, China opposed regionalization. That is why the Chinese market has not yet been opened to Russian manufacturers. If an outbreak of ASF was found in a country, China completely suspended pork imports. So, for example, deliveries from Germany were banned when an outbreak of ASF was detected there.

The first good news came at the end of last year - in December, China signed an agreement with France that if there was an outbreak of ASF in that country, China would not stop exports from France. The PRC recognizes regionalization. France will be able to continue to supply pork from those regions that have not been affected by the virus.

This is a very good signal that China is ready for regionalization so as not to close the whole country at once. The agreement with France can become a good precedent for signing similar agreements with other countries.

Without the opening of the Chinese market, it will be extremely difficult to develop pork exports from Russia. Up to 90% of deliveries now accounted for four countries - these are Belarus, Ukraine, Hong Kong and Vietnam.