October 6, 2004

Russian Pork More Costly Due To Brazilian Import Ban

Russian veterinarians did not lift the meat import ban from Brazil due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Brazilian state of Amazonia.

This decision left the Russian meat-processing factories in distress, as Brazil is one of the biggest sources of pork imports. Thus they expect an increase in prices for this kind of meat.

According to the forecasts of the Meat Union of Russia, pork can increase in price by 5% in just one month. Last year Brazil sold 313,000 tons of pork to Russia, which accounts for more than 60% of Brazilian exports to the country, 211,000 tons of poultry (18-19% of exports) and 89,000 tons of beef.

This year, Brazil planned to export about 190,000 tons of pork, 160,000 tons of poultry meat and 90,000 tons of beef to Russia.