Russia becomes net meat exporter in value terms for the first time in 2023 - IKAR

MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Russian meat and meat product exports from Russia in value terms exceeded the value of its imports for the first time in 2023, Institute for Agricultural Market Studies (IKAR) chief Dmitry Rylko told Interfax.

"In 2023, according to preliminary estimates, the value of exported meat and meat products, including finished products but excluding live cattle, topped $1.8 billion. Imports amounted to about $1.75 billion. Thus, for the first time in the history of our observations, the value of meat exports exceeded the value of its imports, that is, Russia became a net meat exporter in value terms," Rylko said.

At the same time, he recalled that Russia became a net exporter of meat in volume terms back in 2021.

The growth of export revenue was prompted an increase in the volume of deliveries abroad, the expert said. "Moreover, exports of pork and poultry meat, as well as byproducts demonstrated the strongest trends," he said.

Referring to the possibility of increasing pork exports by opening the Chinese market, Rylko said that "there are certainly prospects, but for now it is necessary to fulfill a lot of procedures to actually start deliveries. In addition, he said, China is now overproducing pork, with the need for imports decreasing and prices falling slightly.

"Although, on the other hand, our pork should be competitive compared to pork from other countries. So our pork producers have chances," he said.

As reported, according to FGIS "Argus" data from Rosselkhoznadzor as of December 22, 2023, pork from Russia was exported to 14 countries, with deliveries increasing by 6% to 154,400 tonnes. Poultry deliveries were dispatched to 34 countries and totaled 301,700 tonnes. Lamb was delivered to seven countries, with exports rising 11 times to 10,300 tonnes. Russian beef supplies were dispatched to 24 countries, with exports amounting to 30,200 tonnes. There is also demand for horse meat on the world market: exports rose 2.2 times up to 2,000 tonnes. Finished meat products were supplied to 27 countries in the amount of 70,600 tonnes.