October 31, 2014

Pork prices in Romania have plunged by over 25% during the last two months because of product dumping by EU's major meat producers.

After Russia's ban on EU food products, in effect since August in retaliation for trade sanctions the US and the EU had slapped on Moscow for its support of the separatists rebels in Ukraine, Romania has been flooded by meat products from other EU countries, especially the Netherlands and Poland

Alex Jurconi, chairman of the National Federation Pro Agro, said some EU producers who could no longer export to Russia were dumping their products in Romania, causing meat price depression in the country.

Losses among Romanian pig growers are estimated to have reached over EUR20 million (US$25.17 million) during the last two months, Jurconi said.

Poultry and dairy producers also complained about the same problem. A local poultry operator said prices of chicken and dairy products had also plunged by as much as 25% during the last two months because of product dumping by producers from other EU countries.