Russian exports of meat and by-products are growing strongly: in 2024, deliveries increased by 24% compared to 2023 – to a record $1.7 billion. According to analysts, deliveries in monetary terms may double by 2030. This data is provided by “AgroExport” Federal Center.
Meat and poultry by-products accounted for 48% of the structure of Russian exports, while the year-on-year increase amounted to 17% – up to $800 million. The pork exports were 37%. They increased by 42%, which is more than $610 million. The beef exports amounted to 14%, increasing by 16%, which is more than $230 million.
RUSSIAN EXPORT OF MEAT AND BY-PRODUCTS
Key Export Areas and Volumes
The key buyers of Russian meat are China, Belarus and Saudi Arabia. Over the past four years, from 2020 to 2024, the supply of beef and veal to Uzbekistan has also increased.
China has held the first place in Russian poultry and beef purchases since 2019. There is a high growth rate of external meat supplies to this country between 2020 (+111.6%) and 2021 (+82.6%). In 2021, the exports of beef and veal to China increased almost 2.5 times compared to 2020 – up to 21.4 thousand tons. The export volumes from 2022 to 2024 were 20 thousand tons.
According to experts, meat sales to China rose to $560 million (+14%) in 2024.
The exports of meat and poultry by-products to Saudi Arabia amounted to 78.3 thousand tons in 2024. The exports of beef increased 1.5 times, from 3.3 thousand tons in 2023 to 4.8 thousand tons in 2024.
The exports of meat to Belarus also grew steadily: in the first 10 months of 2024, Russia exported meat to this country for $226 million (+10% on a year-on-year basis).
According to the information system “VetIS”, the exports of meat and poultry by-products increased 1.2 times, to 381.9 thousand tons, compared to 309 thousand tons in 2023.
In 2020-2024, beef and veal exports from Russia increased from 20.2 to 36.2 thousand tons. In 2024, the exports of beef and veal increased by 7.3%, which was influenced by the increase in deliveries to Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan (this data is from “Analysis of the beef and veal market in Russia” – BusinesStat).
EXPORT OF BEEF AND VEAL TO RUSSIA IN 2020-2024
External pork deliveries increased almost 1.5 times in 2024, to 220.5 thousand tons (in 2023 they were 158.3 thousand tons). Out of the total volume, 99 thousand tons went to Belarus, 45.4 thousand tons to Vietnam, and 21.2 thousand tons to China. The pork export volume to Serbia and Hong Kong has doubled.
External pork deliveries increased almost 1.5 times in 2024, to 220.5 thousand tons (in 2023 they were 158.3 thousand tons). Out of the total volume, 99 thousand tons went to Belarus, 45.4 thousand tons to Vietnam, and 21.2 thousand tons to China. The pork export volume to Serbia and Hong Kong has doubled.
In 2024, the exports of cattle, small livestock and pork by-products amounted to 67.4 thousand tons. This figure is 1.4 times higher than the 2023 results, which were 48.9 thousand tons. Vietnam accounted for 37.8 thousand tons of deliveries, while China – for 21.4 thousand tons, which is 11.1 times more than the 2023 volumes (1.9 thousand tons).
Growth Factors
According to Sergey Yushin, the head of the National Meat Association, referred to by “Agroexport” Federal Center, the growth of external supplies is primarily due to the expansion of shipping.
“Russia is actively developing trade relations with potential importing countries,” says Sergey Yushin. “We conduct inspections and certification of Russian enterprises.” The expert gave as an example the beginning of pork supply to China, which started in 2024.
The exports of pork to Belarus increased, and this country took first place in purchases of this type of meat from Russia.
“Russia has also been able to strengthen its positions in the Saudi market, where Russian meat products are becoming more popular, and local consumers are beginning to like them,” Sergey Yushin said.
Among the factors of foreign supply growth are a favorable exchange rate for exports, a fairly stable epizootic situation in Russia, and the government support of exports. All this, together with the growing production of meat (pork, broiler, turkey and beef) allowed Russian producers to ship large quantities of products to foreign markets.
Outlook
Analysts of “Agroexport” Federal Center believe that by 2030, Russian meat exports may exceed $3.6 billion. According to Sergey Yushin, Russian meat producers are interested in the foreign markets, because they increase the profitability of production. The expert believes that further development of exports will depend directly on domestic production, as well as on the level of government support.
Maria Kupriyanova
Source: sfera.fm