Meat imports to Ukraine in Q1 this year made up 58,000 tonnes, 40% less against the same period of the previous year, the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association said.

The drastic plunge in imports is caused by development of the national cattle-breeding, strengthening of veterinary control, as well as reduction of solvency of Ukrainian consumers, according to the association.

The main reduction of imports falls on poultry meat (24,000 tonnes) and pork (19,000 tonnes).

Reduction of imports can become a trend of entire 2010, according to experts. Since early April, pig livestock grew by 14% against the previous year, poultry by over 5%, and realisation of meat for slaughter exceeded the previous year indexes by 8%.

"With time, not only competition with import will be more felt, but competition among national producers too," he noted.