China approves pork imports from Russia

Russian veterinary body Rosselhoznadzor announced. Nevertheless, it will take some time before the first shipments will follow.

China imposed restrictions on Russian pork in 2008 after the first ASF outbreaks occured in the southern regions of the European part of the country. Rosselhoznadzor said that it worked strenuously during the last 10 years to get the ban annulled.

Top-level negotiations bear fruits

The Russian pig industry welcomed the move. Sergey Kovalev, chairman of the Russian Union of Pork Producers (RUPP), told local state news outlet Interfax: “The Chinese authorities have recognised Russian regionalisation of ASF, which is a consequence of the Russian side providing objective, comprehensive and complete information about the system of control, surveillance, monitoring and methods of combating this disease. Talks between veterinary officials and negotiations at the top political level played a big role in getting the ban lifted.”

No complaints

Over the past few years, Russia has been expanding pork export, and no complaints about the quality have ever been raised, Kovalev claimed. Russia plans to sell around 200,000 tonnes of pork to China per year, Russian government agency Agroexport said in a statement. China imports around 2 million tonnes of pork per year, so Russia targets to get hold of a 10% stake in the Chinese pork market.

Bright outlook

In 2023, Russia will sell around 200,000 tonnes of pork to foreign customers. That will make it the 8th world’s largest exporter of this type of meat. Kovalev estimated that with the opening of the Chinese market, this figure could grow to 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes per year. If that forecast comes true, he added, Russia will enter the list of the top-5 world’s largest pork exporters.

Export will determine the future shape of the Russian pig industry, Kovalev said. He estimating that this year, Russian pork production will grow by 5%, and the same growth pace is anticipated in 2024. “To a large extent, ongoing investments in the industry are being made, with a bet on a future increase in exports. In recent years, a number of companies launched new pig farms eyeing the Asian markets.”

Deliveries are yet to start

There is still a long way ahead before the actual pork deliveries can begin, Kovalev said. The 2 countries need to do some technical work to harmonise veterinary regulations.