October 8, 2008

During the January to August period this year, Russia's meat imports surged 22.5 percent on-year to 1.03 million tonnes, according to the Federal Customs Service on Tuesday (October 7, 2008).

Value of meat imports grew 45.4 percent on-year to US$2.98 billion during the January-August period.

The service said Russia imported most of their meat during the period from countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Poultry meat imports fell 2.7 percent on-year to 787,500 tonnes, with the value increasing 26.5 percent on-year to US$807.4 million, the service said, adding that Russia imported poultry only from non-CIS countries during the period.

Russia's fish imports climbed 6.9 percent to 515,400 tonnes, with a value of US$949.5 million, up 20.27 percent on-year.

Last year, Russia imported 1.42 million tonnes of meat, up 8.2 percent from 2006, the service said.