April 12, 2013

Ukraine's pork prices remain stable

Ukraine's implementation of a ban on Brazilian pork imports in late March 2013 has not affected the price situation on the Ukrainian pork market.

"The purchase price of pork has stopped at one level - it is neither rising, nor falling. However, we expected that it will grow," said director general of the Ukrainian Meat Production Corporation Tvarynprom, Serhiy Hnatiuk. He also added that currently, the average purchase price of pork (in live weight) in Ukraine is standing at UAH16 (US$ 1.94) per kilogram, which is just about the same level as it was before the restrictions came into force.

Asked whether an increase in the price of sausages was possible due to the lack of cheaper meat from Brazil, he said that previously the use of meat from Brazil did not reduce the cost of the products.

At the same time, Hnatiuk supported the decision of the State Veterinary and Bio-security Service of Ukraine to stop pork imports from Brazil, noting that Ukraine does not need a large volume of imported pork, as the country is boosting its own production yearly. In 2013 it is expected that pork production will expand by 8-10% compared to 2012, to 770,000-780,000 tonnes.