September 10, 2007

Russia's meat imports up 20 percent for first seven months of 2007

Russia's meat imports rose 20.6 percent to 746,200 tonnes for the first seven months of the year, compared to the same time last year, according to figures from Russia's Federal Customs Service released last week.

The value of meat imports rose 50 percent to US $1.8 billion in the period, from $1.2 billion in the same period of 2006. More than 95 percent of Russia's meat comes from countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

However, Russia's poultry imports fell 2.9 percent to 671,300 tonnes in the period, possibly due to the proliferation of poultry farms in the country. Despite the drop in volume, value amounted to US$530.4 million, up from US$467.1 million in the same period of 2006.

Fish imports was up 30.1 percent to 438,600 tonnes in the period, with value up 52 percent to US$709 million.

At current rates, the growth of Russia's meat imports seems likely to exceed that from last year, when it grew only 3.5 percent.