July 26, 2010

Brazil leads major meat importers to Georgia

Brazil is the leading importer of pork and chicken meat to Georgia, among other countries in 2009.

Imports to Georgia from different countries amounted to 10,178 tonnes of pork and 45,498 tonnes of chicken meat, according to the data of the National Service of Food Safety and Plant Protection of Georgia.

As the National Service of Food Safety and Plant Protection of Georgia said in 2009, 8,567 tonnes of beef and 19,572 tonnes of frosted fish were imported to Georgia. For the first five months of 2010, 20,151 tonnes of pork, 1,064 tonnes of beef and 8,985 tonnes of chicken meat was imported to Georgia.

Georgia imports pork from Brazil, Italy, Spain, Holland and Canada. Chicken meat is imported mostly from the US and France. India is one of the biggest importers of beef in Georgia. Frosted fish is imported from Russia, Norway, Canada, the US and Chile.

"We are importing pork from Brazil and also from Hungary. We mostly import fish products from different countries, like the US, Canada, Chile, Norway, Denmark and many others, it depends on the varieties of fish types," company Akhali Producti officials noted.

"Our company was founded in 2004 and the first product was launched in 2005. Our company is an innovative and progressive company, which offers high quality food to its customers. Products are made by the highest quality materials available in Georgia; the company is equipped with a modern production line. Akhali Producti supplies are imported from Canada, the US, Ireland, Iceland, Turkey and Uruguay," Akhali Producti noted.

According to Akhali Producti, most of the pork in the company is imported from Brazil and demand for these products is quite high.

"Locally produced pork is quite expensive on the market and it's sometimes quite hard to buy. People mostly buy imported meat and have completely no problem with it," Akhali Producti said.

JSC Nikora was founded with Georgian capital and has existed on the local market for 11 years already.

"The business which started with the production of food products soon expanded in different directions. At present, the holding incorporates meat products, semi-finished products, fish products, dairy products, ice-cream, bakery products, frozen confectionary, soft drinks and wine companies. One of the affiliates is an exclusive distributor of imported food products and beverages in Georgia," Nikora Officials noted.

Despite being one of the biggest importers of meat in Georgia, Russia's veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor banned shipments of meat from a number of companies in Germany, France, Brazil, and Poland effective July 30 due to the detection of prohibited and harmful substances.