February 28, 2006

Russian meat imports rise in 2005

Russian beef imports during the first nine months of 2005 increased 34 percent, largely due to strong consumer demand and a rise in disposable incomes, according to the European Market Survey.

Russia is a significant market for South American beef producers, particularly Brazil.

In the past 2 years, South American beef exporters have tripled their share of the Russian market from 21 percent to 77 percent--totalling 353,000 tonnes in 2005. High prices and a beef deficit in Europe caused the tilt towards South American beef as opposed to European imports.

However, Russia's beef imports in the last quarter in 2005 is expected to be low, due to bans as a result of foot and mouth disease in Brazil.