December 3, 2010

Russia nearly halves pork import quota to 250,000 tonnes

Russia has lowered its 2011 pork imports by almost half its quota from 470,000 tonnes to 250,000 tonnes, affecting exporter Brazil, local reports stated Thursday (Dec 2).

The pork global quota was 470,000 tonnes this year. Brazil is included in another category of 189,000 tonnes, which was expected to maintain for next year.

Brazil also exported pork to Russia this year. The South American country exported 206,600 tonnes of pork to Russia valued at US$565.1 million through October.

Carlos Cozendey, director of the economics department at Brazil's foreign affairs ministry, stated that it will be a problem for Brazil to support Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization in the wake of this decision.