According to the Meat Union of Russia, pork prices are expected to rise by 5% in just one moth, following the ban on pork imports from Brazil which was upheld by Russia’s veterinarians. The country’s government temporarily banned all imports of livestock and animal products from Brazil after a case of the foot-and-mouth disease was discovered in Amazonia September 13.
In 2003 Russia imported 313,000 tons of pork, 211,000 tons of poultry and 89,000 tons of beef from Brazil. The planned export volume for the current year was initially estimated at 190,000 tons of pork, 160,000 tons of poultry meat and the same amount of beef as in 2003.
The continuation of the ban means that Russian meat-processing factories are currently turning to more expensive suppliers.
