August 25, 2008

Ukraine's National Association of Meat and Meat Product Producers (Ukrmyaso) has asked the government to suspend beef exports to Russia on a temporary basis due to a supply shortage in the domestic market.

The beef shortage in Ukraine runs up to at least 100,000 tonnes per year, while Ukraine exported 11,500 tonnes of beef to Russia in January to July at a cost of UAH 17.65 per kg, according to Ukrmyaso chairman Volodymyr Popov.

Wholesale factory gate prices for beef in Ukraine's market total UAH 22-24 per kg.

Popov proposed importing at least 100,000 tonnes of beef and 200,000 tonnes of pork per year to ensure sufficient supplies for the domestic market.

The shortage of raw meat materials in Ukraine is about 450,000-500,000 tonnes this year, according to Ukrmyaso's estimates.

Ukrmyaso has also suggested the tightening of conditions for importing poultry meat into Ukraine, but the domestic market is not having a shortage on chicken meat, Popov said.