September 8, 2008

Russia to cut 2009 poultry import quota by 200,000 tonnes 

The Russian agriculture ministry announced Monday (September 8, 2008) it would insist on cutting the 2009 poultry import quota by 200,000 tonnes.

Concerning the import of pork, the agriculture ministry said it would insist on cutting the amount of pork imported above the established import quota, with imports above the import quota amounting currently to 30 percent of the total of pork imports.

Russia needs annually 2.8 million tonnes of poultry, while supply on the domestic market is 3.4 million tonnes, which exceeds demand by 600,000 tonnes. The domestic poultry industry produces 2.1 million tonnes and the poultry import quota for 2008 is 1.212 million tonnes compared with 1.171 million tonnes in 2007. The US share of this market increased in 2008 to 901,400 tonnes from 871,400 tonnes in 2007.

The pork import quota for this year is 493,500 tonnes, including 249,300 tonnes from the European Union, 49,800 tonnes from the US, 1,000 tonnes from Paraguay and 193,400 tonnes from other countries.