February 12, 2009
Brazil to discuss pork import quotas with Russia
Brazilian government officials plan to discuss with Russia import quotas for pork, confirmed the president of Brazil's Pork Industry Association, or Abipecs, on Wednesday (February 11).
"Brazil recently saw its quota reduced and wants to gain a quota of around 50,000 tonnes of pork this year to Russia," Pedro de Camargo Neto told Dow Jones Newswires.
Russia is Brazil's No. 1 customer for pork.
Brazil's animal health and safety official, Inacio Kroetz, will lead a delegation to visit Russia between February 14 and 21 to discuss pork quotas to Russia, local news agency Estado reported Wednesday.
Russia hiked the US quota by 50,000 tonnes in December to bring its new quota to around 100,000 tonnes of pork imports in 2009, while Brazil is in a category called "other countries" that compete for 177,500 tonnes, reduced from 197,100 tonnes in 2008.
Although Brazil exported between 250,000 tonnes and 260,000 tonnes of pork to Russia in 2008, above its quota, Camargo said that the quota gives a better price and also provides certainty in terms of volumes exported to Russia.
Brazil is the world's No. 1 pork exporter.
