April 24, 2006

Russia doubles cost of imported red meats

Beef and pork products are about to become two to three times more expensive as a price increase by the Russia Federal Customs Service comes into effect this week, according to MLA ( Meat and Livestock Australia).

The new pricing policy has sparked fears that pork could be priced out of the reach of lower-income consumers. The increase is part of a budget review to raise the price of pork and beef, generally, but not poultry imports.

The minimum price of beef in Russia would increase by 200 percent, chilled pork carcasses by 140 percent and frozen pork by 100 percent. Prices of quality pork could also become four times more expensive.

According to MLA, Russia could turn to Colombia and Bolivia for beef imports because of reduced supplies from Brazil and Argentina. Russia recently sent a team to Colombia to inspect the facilities for beef production in the country.