Russia's beef imports from Brazil have sunk by 11% during the first four months of 2012, to 86,783 tonnes - 23% below the average for the past five years.
 
While exports from Brazil, historically the largest supplier of beef to Russia, have decreased on-year, shipments from both Paraguay and the US have increased - helping to account for some of the shortfall. Paraguayan exports for January to April were up 71% on-year, at 39,238 tonnes, while shipments from the US for the first three months of 2012 had increased 63%, to 9,207 tonnes.
 
Australian beef exports to Russia for the January to April period totalled 11,796 tonnes, a 37% decrease on-year.