Russian agricultural sector reduces amino acid import dependence to 50% in 2024 - senator

MOSCOW. April 23 (Interfax) - Russia's agricultural sector reduced its dependence on imports of amino acids to 50% in 2024.

"Notably, before 2022, up to 80% of amino acids - a key feed component - were imported from China and EU countries. However, 2024 saw the launch of domestic production facilities like the methionine plant in Tatarstan, reducing import dependence to 50%," First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management Sergei Mitin said at the 19th Feed-2025 international conference in Moscow on Wednesday.

Russia's annual premix production of 550,000-600,000 tonnes covers around 70%-75% of domestic needs, Mitin said. "The bigger challenge lies in domestic production of vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and mineral supplements. Fully realizing the sector's potential requires enhanced support for small farms and improved regulatory compliance monitoring," he said.

Overall, domestic feed production now satisfies 90%-95% of livestock industry requirements, he said.

Russia's feed production grew to 36.4 million tonnes in 2024 from 34.2 million tonnes in 2023, President of the Russian Feed Union and Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of the Feed Industry Valery Afanasyev said at the conference. Poultry feed accounted for the largest share (16.9 million tonnes, compared to 16.5 million in 2023), followed by swine feed (16.1 million tonnes vs. 15.2 million tonnes).