Russia's beef buying on a recovery

Beef buying from Russia may be picking up, evident from last month's increase in imports following low levels in the past three months.

Russia imported 25,179 tonnes swt of Brazilian beef in February, up 57 percent from January, with a 6-percent increase in average prices to US$2,317 per tonne.

Russia also bought 3,125 tonnes of Uruguayan beef, up 7 percent from January and up 38 percent from October 2008 when exports fell to a low.

Imports of Australian beef totalled 681 tonnes in February, while purchase of Paraguayan beef has resumed since imports from the South American country stopped last August due to the global financial crisis.

In the first half of February, Russia has imported 1,500 tonnes of fresh beef, up from only 117 tonnes in January.