Agricultural News
Strong Demand for U.S. Beef and Pork in Russia, but Challenges Remain
Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:11:19 CDT
Russian demand for U.S. beef and pork is strong as evidenced by this year's export statistics. 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).
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.
"It's been a good year for us with both beef and pork exports to Russia. And I'd say the atmosphere at the world food show, for example, was very positive, very energetic, lots of business being done around the USMEF stand at the show. A great deal of interest being shown by our customers, the importers there. I would say our position in the market there is as good as I've seen it for several years."
Lively says the inclusion of Russia into the World Trade Organization has somewhat blunted their protectionist tendencies in regard to phyto-sanitary standards, but significant hurdles remain. He says 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, Lively 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. As an example, Russia is banning imports of pork from a Tyson plant in Nebraska and the National Beef Plant in Dodge City, Kansas, beginning November 5th.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the full audio of this edition of the Beef Buzz. The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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