According to the report, beef supplies fell by 35.2%, to 49,700 tonnes (t), while poultry fell by 27.1% to 45,300t. Imports of frozen pork from non-CIS countries decreased compared to the same period of 2013 by 32% to 115,000t, as did chilled pork (-85% to 1,000t), offal (-76% to 8,000t) and bacon (-71% to 25,000t).
Experts say that Russia is almost self-sufficient in poultry production, however for other types of meat such strong decreases in imports will result in serious problems on the market.
"The sharp decline in imports that we observe currently is artificial - its reason is the number of restrictions imposed on supplies of pork and beef from different countries, by Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor," commented Russian agricultural analyst Eugene Gerden.
Government invests in sector
The fall in imports has forced the Russian government and meat producers’ associations to seek new suppliers of meat from abroad and to stimulate the growth of domestic production.
As part of urgent measures to stimulate domestic production of meat, Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev recently signed a decree on the allocation of the national budget of an additional RUB 4.5bn (US$140m) for the development of country’s own meat production industry.
It is noteworthy that the volume of meat production has been growing during the first quarter of the year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in January of this year Russia increased production of meat by 8.3% year-to-year, to 0.9 million tonnes with pig production during this period rising by 16.3% to 200,200t, and poultry meat by 3.3% to 391,500t. Production of cattle decreased by 6.8% and amounted to 65,800t.
Russia should abandon beef industry development
It is assumed that the government money will be spent on the development of production in the most problematic sectors – in particular the production of certain categories of pork products – fat and lard - and an increase in beef production, which has recently become extremely expensive in most part of the country. However, the Russian Meat Union claimed that this approach is not effective and in fact the country should abandon its support of the beef industry.
"There is much talk about the fact that we have a lack of beef production, that we are dependent on imports, and that it is necessary to increase the production. But why should we do this, especially in the regions where the most part of the population has no money for this, the most expensive, type of meat?" commented the situation Musheg Mamikonyan, chairman of the Russian Meat Union.
"At the same time Russia has produced excess poultry, which is more affordable and more dietary. So we should not subsidize the production of marble meat and we should not ask government to give more money towards food security, but we should reallocate those funds [from the beef industry] to the other sectors of meat production, taking into account the needs of the population," he added.