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U.S. beef, pork prospects look good in Russia: USMEF
Story Date: 11/1/2012
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Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 10/31/12
Russia is making strides in terms of self-sufficiency in meat production, but persistent animal disease problems present continued opportunities for U.S. exporters, a U.S. Meat Export Federation official said.
Thad Lively, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior president for trade access, recently returned from Russia, where he attended the World Food Moscow food exhibition and met with trade officials and meat industry leaders to discuss the current business climate for U.S. pork and beef.
“Our position in the market there is as good as I’ve seen it for several years,” Lively said in a USMEF audio update.
Through August, U.S. beef exports to Russia were 8 percent ahead of last year’s record pace in volume (nearly 117 million pounds) and 31 percent higher in value ($214 million). Pork exports were 30 percent higher than a year ago in volume (140.4 million pounds) and up 22 percent in value ($183 million).
Lively noted Russia’s efforts to attain self sufficiency in pork production. He said the share of production from modern production systems is on the rise, but African Swine Fever is a major hurdle to that effort.
“Until they can figure out how to manage this particular problem, their ability to meet self-sufficiency targets is going to be greatly limited,” he said.
Lively adds that Russia made significant market access concessions for U.S. beef and pork as part of its negotiations to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), including a larger tariff rate quota for U.S. beef muscle cuts and reduced duty rates for pork imports. But he says WTO membership has not eliminated all barriers facing U.S. meat as it enters Russia, so significant work continues on approval of U.S. processing plants, consistent application of veterinary standards and other key issues.
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