Russian meat import share dives down to 25%

The share of imported meat in Russia fell to 25% in 2009, compared to 32% in 2008, stated the Russian Minister of Agriculture Elena Skrynnik.

"There is a good growth in the production of poultry and pork which is mainly attributed to recent state measures aimed at supporting the domestic poultry and pork producers," Skrynnik said.

She said that the major increases in production were observed in the central regions of the country as well in the south, in particular Rostov.

Moreover, the Russian government and investors are still improving the pork industry in the Russian Urals through the development of “Uralsky" piggery, one of the largest piggeries in Russia and Eastern Europe.

The facility is designed for growing of 210,000 cash pigs, and has the capacity to process more than 25,000 tonnes of meat per year. Currently, its levels of production are steadily increasing: only in November 2009 it produced 1,657 tonnes of meat, which was only expected in 2010.