June 11, 2012
 
Russia's pork expected to hit 2.6 million tonnes output

Russia's pork output may reach 2.6 million tonnes for 2012, with an increase to 3.1 million tonnes in 2015, according to Yuriy Kovalev, director of the National Pig Breeders Union.

Pork production may rise to 2.8 million tonnes next year and three million tonnes in 2014, Kovalev said at an Agriculture Ministry meeting in Moscow.

Imports of pigs for slaughter may more than triple by 2015 after Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation, according to a presentation by Kovalev. Pig imports will may rise to 200,000 animals in 2015 compared with 80,000 this year and 55,600 last year, according to his presentation. Russia will probably be able to meet 85% of domestic pork demand, or 23.5 kilogrammes a person by 2015, said Agriculture Minister, Nikolai Fedorov.